UK mandates pre-departure Covid test for all travellers

Dhaka: The UK government has announced that travellers to the country will need to show a negative coronavirus test pre-departure as it reintroduces Covid-19 restrictions due to the Omicron variant.

From 0400 GMT on December 7, anyone travelling to the UK will have to show evidence of a negative lateral flow or PCR test taken within the last 48 hours before boarding a flight, the health ministry said late on December 4.

This will apply to travellers aged over 12 from any country. Currently, travellers have to take a PCR test within two days of arrival.

The reintroduction of compulsory pre-departure testing prompted an angry response from the travel industry.

The Business Travel Association said that the measure would be a "hammer blow," while the Airport Operators Association said that "pre-departure tests are a devastating blow, as they deter people from travelling."

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said he knew the new measure was a "burden for the travel industry" but stressed the UK needed to act. "We've got to take the measures targeted forensically to stop the new variant seeding in this country to create a bigger problem." The government has vowed it "will take further decisive action if necessary to contain the virus and new variant."

The UK earlier banned flights from South Africa and put 10 African countries on its red list, meaning only UK and Irish citizens or UK residents can travel from there to the UK. Nigeria will join the list from December 6.