TRAVELLERS must take a COVID test before returning to England as the government stepped up the fight against the Omicron variant.
Ministers signed off on new measures this afternoon deciding that those returning will need a negative PCR or lateral flow test in the 48 hours before coming home.
The move will enrage the ailing travel industry as holidaymakers face the burden of added costs of foreign trips from Tuesday.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Health Secretary Sajid Javid led a virtual COVID-O meeting after Omicron cases were found in forty countries.
Mr Javid said the measures were “hugely unfortunate” but insisted they would be temporary”.
He added: “We want to remove them as soon as we possibly can.”
Ministers acted after early evidence suggested the gap between infection and being infectious is shorter than the Delta variant meaning cases can be caught sooner.
The decision will be reviewed on December 18 in line with other COVID measures such as the wearing of face masks on public transport.
It effectively means travellers will have to take at least two tests within four days to comply with all COVID measures.
It marks a re-introduction of the measures that were familiar with travellers coming to the UK up until last October.
Travellers will be required to take a PCR test within 48 hours of returning home which was introduced last week. Anyone coming back into the UK has to self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Nigeria became a ‘red’ list country joining others including South Africa which will require UK nationals self-isolate at home and others to book a government-approved hotel quarantine for ten days.
Meanwhile, Labour last night called on the government to cap the price of PCR tests for individuals taking day 2 PCR tests in the UK.
Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh wants action before the festive period begins.
She said: “Many flying home for their first Christmas since the pandemic began, will be hit with scandalous testing costs.
“Unscrupulous private providers are pocketing millions, and leaving many families forced to shell out huge sums.
“Ministers are sitting on their hands while people who want to do the right thing are paying the price for this broken market.
A UKHSA spokesperson said: “There are currently a wide range of tests available online and we continue working to make the market fair and transparent for everyone.”
It comes as
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