TheNewsGuru

Tag: Red list

  • BREAKING: UK removes Nigeria, 10 other countries from red list after continental outrage

    BREAKING: UK removes Nigeria, 10 other countries from red list after continental outrage

    The Government of United Kingdom has said that all 11 countries will be removed from the country’s travel red list from 4am on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the UK Government had earlier placed Nigeria, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe on the list spurring immediate continental outrage.

    The red list was reintroduced in late November as a precaution after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

    But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it had spread so widely the rules no longer had much purpose.

    “Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad,” he told parliament.

    “Whilst we will maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow morning.”

    Currently, all UK arrivals from red list countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days.

     

    They must also take Covid tests within 48 hours of setting off for the UK and PCR tests within two days of their arrival.

    Some arrivals have already paid thousands of pounds to stay in government-approved quarantine hotels, and there have been complaints of chaotic organisation and inedible food during their stays.

    Mr Javid said he had asked for urgent advice on whether those currently in managed quarantine would be able to leave early.

    He also said he was “very persuaded” by calls to reimburse people and hoped to make an announcement soon.

    The move follows anger from African countries, with the UN describing the ban on non-UK residents entering England as “travel apartheid”.

    The travel industry had also warned the restrictions were hurting business.

    Tim Alderslade, head of trade group Airlines UK, said emptying the red list made “complete sense”, but that the government should also scrap pre-departure and day two tests for all arrivals.

    “If the red list isn’t necessary, given that Omicron is established here at home, then neither are the costly emergency testing and isolation measures imposed on even fully vaccinated travellers, which again put us completely at odds with the rest of Europe.”

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said these testing measures would be reviewed in the first week of January.

    “As always, we keep all our travel measures under review and we may impose new restrictions should there be a need to do so to protect public health,” he said on Twitter.

  • Omicron: What we are doing to reverse inclusion of Nigeria on red list nations – FG

    Omicron: What we are doing to reverse inclusion of Nigeria on red list nations – FG

    Nigeria has initiated diplomatic steps to reverse the country’s inclusion into a red list by some nations.

    The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who represented the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, stated at an emergency briefing by the committee on Monday.

    According to him, the move is in the best interest of all parties, noting that the country is expecting a positive response within a week.

    He noted that the PSC has also evaluated the developments on the relationship between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stating that the Federal Government’s position is in line with established ICAO Protocols and the spirit of the BASA signed with the UAE.

    Sirika insisted that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains paramount and that mutual respect will be upheld as a guiding principle in the best interest of the nation.

    The minister promised that the PSC will reveal the next line of action on Monday, 20th December.

    According to him, so far, the death toll from COVID-19 in the country has been below 3,000.

    Sirika added that Nigeria is yet to receive a letter circulating on social media and indicating a revised travel restriction update purportedly from the UAE.

    Earlier in the day, a memo complete with a reference number and allegedly from the United Arab Emirates had emerged stating that owing to an increasing number of COVID-19 infected passengers at destination, it has decided to stop accepting Nigerian passengers into the country.

  • Omicron: Nigeria’s intention to red list UK, others not ‘tit-for-tat’ decision – FG

    Omicron: Nigeria’s intention to red list UK, others not ‘tit-for-tat’ decision – FG

    The Federal Government has said its decision to place on a red-list, countries that have placed Nigeria on a red-list in the wake of a new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 is not a tit-for-tat decision.

    This was revealed on Sunday by the Minister of State, for Health, Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora.

    The minister explained that contrary to claims that the said plan was on a tit-for-tat basis, the move is only expected to be in the best interest of the country.

    “I don’t want you to look at it from that angle, (the tit-for-tat perception).. No, it’s not that.

    “In international diplomacy, I am aware that you have what we call the principle of reciprocity in which case you want to act in a reciprocal manner that another country has acted.

    “But most importantly in all this, is the fact that we have every right to determine what is best for us,” the Minister said on a monitored Channels Television programme.

  • Senate wants UK to remove Nigeria from COVID-19 red list

    Senate wants UK to remove Nigeria from COVID-19 red list

    The Nigerian Senate has called on the British authorities to consider removing Nigeria from their Coronavirus (COVID-19) red list.

    The senate also condemned what it called the United Kingdom’s inclusion of Nigeria in the COVID-19 red list without justification.

    These were resolutions reached by the Senate at plenary on Tuesday, following the consideration of a motion on the “Need for Government of the United Kingdom to remove Nigeria from COVID-19 Red List”.

    The motion was sponsored by Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP-Enugu West).

    It advised the UK government to be sensitive to the diplomatic relationship between both countries when taking decisions that affect Nigerian citizens.

    The senate also urged the Federal Government to engage the British authorities on reversing Nigeria’s inclusion on the list.

    It also called on the Buhari administration to remain firm in the enforcement of necessary protocols in the containment of every COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.

    It further called on major vaccine powers like: Britain, Canada, America, and the European Union, among others, to take urgent steps to ensure vaccine equity in the interest of the entire human race.

    Coming under Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Ekweremadu noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Government of Nigeria in the containment and treatment of COVID-19 cases.

    He said, “Nigeria is among the countries with the lowest cases of COVID-19.

    “The decision by the British Government to include Nigeria in its COVID-19 list, with its concomitant implications, will affect many citizens of Nigeria, who had planned to spend their Christmas and New Year holiday with their families.

    “Also worried that Nigerians with genuine needs to visit the U.K within this period will be denied visas and those with visas will not be allowed to enter the U.K.”

    He noted that Nigerians had consistently complied with all the COVID-19 protocols required by the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.K Government for travelers prior to the ban.

    He emphasised that targeting African countries, especially in the COVID-19 travel ban, amounted to profiling and discrimination as well as an attack on Nigeria’s cordial diplomatic relationship with the U.K.

    Ekweremadu drew the attention of the senate to global concerns over vaccine hoarding and inequity and the resulting consequences on low-income nations in the fight against COVID-19.

    In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said that the decision to include Nigeria on the UK COVID-19 red list posed a strain on the diplomatic relationship between both countries.

    He also decried the poor treatment of Nigeria by the UK government.

    Lawan, therefore, called on the British Parliament to intervene with a view to having Nigeria removed from the country’s COVID-19 red list.

    He said “Let there be justification for it. We are not saying that they can not put any country on the red list, including Nigeria, but there must be reasons for doing that.

    “And of course, Nigeria has done so well to the admiration of many countries in the area of containment of COVID-19.

    “Therefore, we don’t see any reason why Nigeria will be on that so called red list. I believe that Nigerians deserve better treatment from the British government.

    “I’m using this opportunity to ask the British Parliament to mount pressure on its government to remove Nigeria from the so called red list.”

  • Omicron: Rescind travel ban on Nigeria now, FG tells UK Government

    Omicron: Rescind travel ban on Nigeria now, FG tells UK Government

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has condemned the red listing of Nigeria by the UK government over the two cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Mr Mohammed described the decision as unjust and discriminatory.

    The minister has, however, called on the UK government to rescind their decision immediately.

    Also discussed at the summit is the way forward as regards an upscale of the current responses to the pandemic including ongoing mass vaccination, surveillance and screening at the various points of entry.

    Lai Mohammed’s comments are the latest reactions to the red listing which has continued to stir debates in Nigeria and across the world.

    Earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, expressed disappointment over the United Kingdom government’s placement of Nigeria on its red list following the detection of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

    “We were not very happy when six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa were placed on a red list and the WHO also advised against putting each other on the red list.

    “From what we know about the COVID-19, there are many ways to manage it, and besides, not much is still known about the Omicron variant. We know, for example, that there have been no fatalities.

    “There have also been no reports of very severe illness. Actually, the rationale for being so hasty in putting countries on the red list is not something that is very helpful.”

    According to the minister, the move was ill-advised. He further noted that it would have multiple impacts on commerce, and disrupt activities during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

  • UK adds Nigeria to red list travellers over Omicron fears

    UK adds Nigeria to red list travellers over Omicron fears

    Nigeria is among countries to be restricted into the United Kingdom, UK, as it’s placed in the red list to face restrictions as announced by the Health Secretary.

    All international arrivals to the UK will again be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests to tackle the spread of the new Omicron variants.

    The rule applies to all travellers over the age of 12 visiting the UK or returning from a holiday, regardless of vaccination status, and will come into force from 4am on Monday 6 December.

    Tests must be taken a maximum of 48 hours before the departure time.

    Sajid Javid said it was because of an “increasing number of cases linked to travel”.

    In addition, Nigeria is being added to the travel red list – joining several southern African nations which were put on it after the Omicron variant was first detected late last month.

    It means that only UK citizens and residents will be able to enter the country from Nigeria, and they will have to pay to stay in a quarantine hotel for 10 days.

    That change comes in from 4am on Monday, with Mr Javid saying Nigeria is “second only to South Africa for cases linked to Omicron”.

    He added that there are “27 cases already in England and that’s growing”.

    Mr Javid acknowledged that the measures are “hugely unfortunate” for people who already had travel plans, but insisted they would be “temporary”.

    “We want to remove them as soon as we possibly can,” he added, saying that “vaccines remain our first line of defence”.

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said “additional caution” was required until the Omicron “picture is clearer”.

    Travel rules are a matter for the devolved administrations, but measures introduced by Downing Street are usually replicated elsewhere, and Scotland quickly announced the same testing requirements.

    Scotland’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “We have always said it may be necessary to quickly implement fresh measures to protect public health in Scotland, particularly with regards to international travel, and these restrictions are proportionate and necessary to that aim.”

  • UK removes 47 countries, leaves seven on COVID-19 Travel ‘Red List’

    UK removes 47 countries, leaves seven on COVID-19 Travel ‘Red List’

    The UK government on Thursday announced a dramatic reduction to its coronavirus travel “red list”, scrapping bans on foreigners travelling to England from 47 countries.

    Under the new rules that come into effect from 0300 GMT on Monday October 11, only seven countries — Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela — will remain under the restrictions.

    Removal from the “red list” for the 47 countries and territories, including Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, means passengers will no longer be required to enter hotel quarantine.

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the move was possible because of “the increased vaccination efforts around the globe”.

    The government also announced it was extending inbound vaccinated arrivals to a further 37 countries and territories including India and Turkey.

    The new rules mean fully vaccinated individuals entering England from the 37 locations will be exempt from quarantine, a pre-departure test and a day-eight post-arrival test.

    British and Irish nationals and those living in the UK are allowed to travel from red list countries, but must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days on arrival.

    The UK government in London sets health and transport policy for England only. The devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set the Covid travel policies for their regions.

    They have largely followed previous rule changes for England.

  • Nigeria not among countries on UK’s COVID-19 red list – FG

    Nigeria not among countries on UK’s COVID-19 red list – FG

    The Federal Government on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the country is not on the red list of nations required to isolate for 14 days on arrival in the United Kingdom (UK).

    It explained that even as Nigerians are required to isolate on arrival in the UK, British citizens are also required to isolate for seven days upon arrival in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that on October 4, the UK government released a list of 50 countries who will not be required to isolate on arrival in the UK, on presentation of their vaccination certificate. However, Nigeria was not listed among these countries.

    The Federal Government, however, noted that aside from the fact that no African country was listed, Nigeria’s vaccination certification programme status is yet to be comprehensively reviewed by the UK Government. Also, the vaccines administered in Nigeria are approved by the UK Government.

    Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaib stated these yesterday during a joint COVID-19 vaccination briefing, alongside the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    He said: “As at yesterday, the 4th of October 2021, Nigeria had vaccinated 4,963,985 eligible persons across the country with first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. This figure represents 4.4 per cent of the targeted 111,776,503 eligible population. About 2,166,186 people have received their second doses of the vaccines. This means that approximately 1.9 per cent of eligible population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It is imperative to reiterate the fact that only those who have taken their second dose are fully protected against the deadly COVID-19.

    “I would like to comment on the UK Government’s statement, which was released yesterday. Nigeria’s status has not changed. Nigeria is not among the red listed countries that need to mandatory quarantine for 14 days in a supervised UK facility.

    “The statement released by the UK Government is in line with the press statement released last week that Nigerians will continue to isolate upon arrival to the UK. This is similar to our requirement to have travellers from the UK, isolate for seven days upon arrival in Nigeria.

    “The Presidential Steering Committee is in the process of reviewing these requirements. We have been in touch with the UK Government. Just like they stated clearly in their communication, the current listing of countries with approved vaccination certification has just started in the UK.

    “They are reviewing the country’s programmes in phases. If you go through the list of 50 closely, no African country made the list. The UK Government is yet to comprehensively review Nigeria’s vaccination certification programme. From my communication with the UK Government officials, the vaccines administered in Nigeria are approved by the UK Government. They are also involved with the vaccination programme in Nigeria through the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and they are optimistic that by the time Nigeria’s COVID-19 vaccination programme certification is assessed, it will be approved.

    “There are many countries in the world. So, we like many other countries are in the queue for this assessment. Once it gets to our turn, we are more likely than not to get approved in the coming weeks. Like the UK Government have clearly stated, the process of assessment would occur in phases.”

    He added: “I would like to inform you that yesterday evening, we received 501,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility as donation from the Government of France. We have also gotten confirmation that we will be receiving 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer vaccines within the next two weeks.

    “As part of our transparency process to Nigerians and the media, we would be providing you with figures of the adverse event following immunisation reported. In this phase of the vaccination process, 191 serious and 6,555 non-serious AEFI cases were reported. All cases reported were managed in the health facility and individuals have fully recovered and back to their normal daily living.

    “In the coming months, Nigeria will be receiving more doses of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX facility. We anticipate that the vaccines will be quite large in amount, and therefore will require more efficient and faster ways of utilising them, including expanding access to the vaccines.

    “We have, therefore, started implementing the decentralisation of vaccine utilisation by involving the private sector in the vaccine administration. Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are available at government health facilities only. As we decentralise, private health facilities, who meet the set criteria, will be allocated COVID-19 vaccines, after due training of their immunisation service providers. Vaccinations in private health facility will continue with the help of government health officials.

    “Subsequently, clients will be able to access COVID-19 vaccines at both government and private health care facilities in the country. This will be done at different levels, which would include the states and local governments. We are taking every caution to ensure that when implemented, the decentralisation policy is not corrupted. Private health care facilities will be carefully selected based on transparent eligibility criteria, and supervision will be maximised to ensure discipline and compliance with safety measures. The goal, as I said is to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and to ensure rapid and safe vaccine utilisation.”