Covid-19: UK revises travel rules for Nigerians, shelves mandatory 10-day isolation for travellers

[By VICTOR NZE]

United Kingdom Government has said that from Monday, October 11, fully vaccinated travellers from Nigeria will now be able to visit England without needing to take multiple COVID-19 tests or self isolate.

According to the UK, travellers from Nigeria will be able to visit England without needing to provide a pre-departure test, undertake a day 8 test or self-isolate for 10 days, although, it added, the traveler ‘will still need to book and pay for a day 2 test.’

The UK Government also added that the revised policy applies to those fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca (including Covidshield), Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccines.

The U-turn by the UK Government follows the condemnation by Nigerians of its earlier placing of the country in the ‘red list’ of nations whose travellers would have to self isolate upon entry into the UK even after vaccination.

A statement issued by the UK Government, Monday, further advised travellers from Nigeria who are already vaccinated to ‘undertake complete course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England.’

“The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days. You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated under a vaccination programme and have a valid proof of vaccination recognised by the British Government.

“For Nigeria, the certificates with valid QR codes as issued by Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency are recognised.

“If you are not a fully vaccinated traveller from Nigeria to England, you must: take a pre-departure COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 3 days before travel; book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 tests – to be taken after arrival; complete a passenger locator form – any time in the 48 hours before arrival

“After you arrive, you must: quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days; take a pre-booked COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8,” the advisory read.

Commenting on the revised policy for Nigerian travellers, Acting British High Commissioner, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, said: The exemption of fully-vaccinated Nigerians travelling to the UK from providing a pre-departure test and self-isolating for 10 days, is a very welcome development. To make this happen, we have been working closely with Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency on recognising Nigeria’s vaccine certification, which we have now done.

“The UK remains committed to opening up international travel and enabling those who wish to enter the UK, to do so safely. Vaccines work and – as the pandemic has shown – no one is safe until we are all safe. I would encourage all eligible people to get vaccinated.”

Last week the UK unveiled its newly released list of 50 countries under its harmonised ‘red’ category for protocol-free entry, which had excluded travellers from Nigeria despite the country vaccinating nearly 2 million of its citizens.

The exclusion also followed the UK Government having earlier endorsed Nigeria’s vaccination programme supervised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Before then, the UK maintained a three-category list of ‘green,’ ‘amber’ and ‘red’ list of countries around the world with recognized Covid-19 vaccination certificates.

Nigeria was previously listed in ‘amber’ category, for not ramping up enough vaccination which was then between 1 to 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccinations in a country of over 100 million residents.

However, with the UK merging all categories of certificates, Monday, Nigeria was expecting to be included in the harmonized group of ‘red’ countries following earlier endorsement given by the UK Government of the country vaccination programme.

According to the UK, travellers from countries outside its previous ‘green’ list were required to undergo mandatory 10-day quarantine regardless of whether or not they had vaccinated in their points of departure.

While travellers from ‘amber’ countries were required to undergo mandatory 10-day isolation in a hotel upon arrival in the UK, those arriving from the former ‘red’ list zone had to take a fresh Covid-19 PCR test and then the mandatory isolation.

Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, last Monday, in Abuja, at the national briefing by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, had informed that a statement earlier by the British High Commission, Abuja, claiming the vaccines administered in Nigeria were recognised and approved by their regulatory body, was a plus for Nigeria.

Shuaib also said that the British High Commission had, in the statement, noted that as from October 4 they would be simplifying their classification process to ‘red list’ and ‘Rest of the World’.

 “This indicates that the ongoing vaccination exercise in Nigeria is widely recognised. Please, let us not let carriers of misinformation and disinformation prevent us from deciding to protect ourselves, our family and our loved ones,” Shuaib had said.

On reports of sharp practices by persons and staff of the agency over the sale of vaccination cards to unvaccinated persons, which the UK Government may relied on to deny Nigeria the red listing, the NPHCDA boss warned that it was a criminal offence for anyone to fraudulently acquire COVID-19 cards without receiving the vaccine, just as buying and selling COVID-19 vaccines and cards, through racketeering, were also criminal offences.

He said the Federal Government provided the vaccines free of charge to all eligible persons, warning that officers in charge of designated health facilities would be held accountable for every vaccination card and Quick Response (QR) code.

 “These must match the quantities of vaccines and devices provided. Supervisors and the newly established joint task force (JTF) would be examining the records in health facilities to ensure consistency in inventories.

“States will be supported to strengthen their monitoring mechanisms, as well as urge all Nigerians to report anyone who tries to buy or sell the vaccination cards to the NPHCDA and other offices.”

UK had said the new travel system comes into force with countries and territories categorised as either ‘red’ or ‘rest of the world.’

In a statement on its website, the UK government released a list of over 50 countries with approved COVID-19 vaccination programmes and proof of vaccination for travel to England.

“Fully vaccinated residents in other countries not yet part of the inbound policy, as well as those partially vaccinated, will still have to take a pre-departure test, PCR tests for day 2 and day 8 after arrival, and self-isolate for 10 days, with the option to test to release after 5 days,” the statement read.

“The UK government is continuing to work with international partners as we seek to more regularly expand the policy to further countries and territories,” the statement continued.

The government said the new simplified travel system meant that eligible fully vaccinated passengers and eligible under-18s returning from over 50 countries and territories not on the red list, can do so without needing to complete a pre-departure test (PDT), a day 8 test or enter a 10-day self-isolation period, making it easier for those travelling.

It added that eligible fully vaccinated passengers with an approved vaccine and recognised certificate from a country not on the red list would be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England.

Shuaib at the national briefing by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, said that no fewer than 4,734,769 eligible people in Nigeria had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of September 26.

“This comprises 3,040,000 with first dose AstraZeneca and 1,694,769 with the first dose of Moderna.

“This represents 4.2 per cent of the 111,776,503 eligible populations, targeted to receive full doses of the vaccines for Nigeria to achieve herd immunity.

“Out of the total vaccinated, 1,892,092 eligible persons have received their second dose of which 1,825,739 have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, while 66,353 eligible persons were fully vaccinated with Moderna.”

The NPHCDA boss said that a lot more work needed to be done for Nigeria to reach its target goal of vaccinating not less than 70 per cent of the eligible population of 111,776,503.

He said that such vaccination should not only be done “in terms of provision of vaccines but more importantly in terms of mobilising our friends, families and communities to get vaccinated”.

Nigeria presently deploys up to three vaccines brands in its vaccination programme; the Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson types.