Britain rolled out a “simplified” international travel system on Monday, scrapping an amber list of medium Covid-19 risk countries. But the new rules did not recognize fully vaccinated Indian travellers, even as Covishield was listed in its globally eligible vaccine formulations.
India imposed reciprocal measures, effective from Monday, requiring the same level of PCR tests and 10-day quarantine at declared destinations for all British travellers, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Travellers from over 50 countries covered by the UK’s new system need to undertake only one PCR test on day 2 of their arrival instead of a pre-departure test, a day 8 test or a 10-day self-isolation on arrival.
Indian travellers however will need to take all three tests and self-isolate.
Its worth noting that travellers from the red list countries will have to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine at a hotel designated by the government. This requirement may however be scrapped for a majority of the countries on this list later this month.
Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, an organisation that represents UK carriers said that he is hoping for more countries to be removed from the red list at the next review and that more mutual recognition will be given to vaccination status from other countries.
(With Inputs from PTI)
