UK yes to Indian vax, junks 10-day quarantine order

UK yes to Indian vax, junks 10-day quarantine order

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:08.10.2021

From October 11, Indians who have been fully vaccinated with WHO-approved Covishield will not be required to undergo the mandatory 10-day quarantine on arrival in the UK, ending a standoff between the two countries.

The travellers who have had their second doses — of Covishield or another UK approved vaccine — at least 14 days before landing in the UK will not be required to take a pre-departure Covid test or the day 8 test following their arrival.

It said cleared travellers only needed to take a Covid test on day 2, which also can be the less expensive “lateral flow” test instead of an RTPCR test. The decision came hours after MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the UK’s earlier decision to quarantine fully vaccinated Indians as “discriminatory”.

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It said cleared travellers only needed to take a Covid test on day 2, which also can be the less expensive “lateral flow” test instead of an RTPCR test. The decision came hours after MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the UK’s earlier decision to quarantine fully vaccinated Indians as “discriminatory”.

British high commissioner to India Alex Ellis tweeted on Thursday night: “No quarantine for Indian travellers to UK fully vaccinated with Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine from October 11. Thanks to Indian government for close cooperation over last month.” In a video message, Ellis said, “We have been actually open for Indian travellers for months. We have been issuing thousands of visas to students, business travellers, tourists.… Some of the noise about this issue over the last few weeks just shows how keen people are to travel to the UK.”

He added, “Let’s open up more flights between the two countries. Let’s get British tourists able to come into India, they are desperate to do so. Let’s facilitate business travellers who are trying to come into India with e-visas.”

UK’s secretary of state for transport Grant Shapps tweeted: “I’m making changes so travellers visiting England have fewer entry requirements by recognising those with fully-vaccinated status from 37 new countries and territories, including India, Turkey and Ghana.” The UK had so far not accepted India’s Covishield certification due to which travellers were treated as unvaccinated and required to undergo 10-day quarantine with expensive Covid tests on day 2 and 8 of arrival. India had from October 4 reciprocated by imposing similar conditions from arrivals from the UK.