Travellers coming into the UK should be forced to isolate for EIGHT days over omicron variant, Boris Johnson urged

TRAVELLERS coming into the UK should be forced to isolate for EIGHT days amid fears of the Omicron variant, Boris Johnson was urged today.

Scottish and Welsh First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford called for more emergency measures to combat the new strain spreading in the UK.

They demanded an urgent Cobra meeting today – and extra quarantine for travellers coming into the country.

From tomorrow all travellers coming in must take a PCR test and isolate until it comes back.

But they are urging him to go further by forcing people to do a day eight test as well, and isolate until that comes back negative.

And they want guarantees the UK Treasury will cough up extra cash for furlough and other business help schemes – in case they have to close.

The letter says: "The emergence of Omicron poses a potential threat to the UK. It is clear that the strain is already here and that it appears highly transmissible.

🔵 Read our Omicron variant live blog for the latest news

"We need to work collectively – and effectively – as Four Nations to take all reasonable steps to control the ingress of the virus to the co"untry and then to limit its spread."

Ms Sturgeon and Mr Drakeford said a joined-up UK approach warranted an emergency Cobra meeting "as soon as possible".

On their main demand for tighter travel rules, they said: "We believe the reinstatement of a requirement for a ‘day 8’ PCR test for travellers arriving into the UK – alongside the ‘day 2’ requirement already announced, and thereby requiring isolation for that whole period – is now necessary.

"Public health advice is unequivocal that this is the best and safest."

While each devolved government is responsible for healthcare and has thus been responding to the pandemic separately, travel rules have been broadly similar.

The leaders also whipped out their begging bowls to demand extra money from the UK government coffers.

Opening up old battle lines, they said: "We do not want to be in a position again where our public healthinterventions are negatively impacted by a lack of financial support, but can be switched on as required for England."

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?

Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too.

Click here to upload yours.

Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post School unions demand ministers force children to wear masks in class
    Next post We asked 23 women to share the beauty habits that make them feel most confident