strongCOVID-19: Pre-departure tests now required of arrivals in the UK to slow spread of Omicron/strong
He said on Monday that some of the UK's 336 confirmed Omicron cases were not connected to travel.
It is not yet know how the Omicron variant differs from the Delta one, but some early indications from the UK Health Security Agency are that the window between infection and infectiousness may be shorter than for the Delta variant.The travel industry has reacted with anger to the new testing rules and the earlier additions to the red list, and Mr Javid responded by saying the measures were temporary.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called on the government to do"whatever it can" to lower the price of COVID-19 pre-departure tests, saying people are"getting really hammered by prices that can't be justified". Also on Tuesday, European Union health ministers will discuss whether to adjust travel restrictions imposed on southern African countries after the Omicron variant was first reported by scientists in South Africa.
The ministers could agree to PCR tests for vaccinated third-country nationals from the region, meaning that some of the travel bans could be lifted within a week, according to a Bloomberg report.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Omicron COVID-19 variant now discovered in 17 US statesThe Omicron COVID-19 variant has now been detected in 17 U.S. states as the mutant strain continues its spread across the world. More than 1,000 cases have been detected worldwide.
Read more »
COVID-19: Boris Johnson denies government acted too late in bringing back pre-departure tests amid spread of Omicron variant'We're still waiting to see exactly how dangerous it is, what sort of effect it has in terms of deaths and hospitalisations,' Boris Johnson says about the new variant of COVID-19.
Read more »
Significant outbreak of Covid-19 linked to music eventNHS Highland said a ‘small number’ of the cases were the omicron variant.
Read more »
COVID-19: Areas in England with the lowest booster dose take-up revealedAdults in the UK are being urged to take up the COVID-19 booster vaccine as part of efforts to tackle the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Read more »
COVID-19 vaccine creator says next virus could be 'more contagious' and 'more lethal'Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert is part of a team credited with saving millions of lives through their role in designing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Read more »