The United Kingdom (UK) will allow the arrival of travelers who have received the Covishield Covid-19 vaccine from 4 October. This information has been given in a government circular issued on 22 September. The decision was taken to ease the pandemic-related restrictions imposed on many countries, including India, that were imposed last year. According to the travel circular, the four listed vaccines, including AstraZeneca Covishield, AstraZeneca Vaxzevria and Moderna Takeda, have been approved.
It states that the traveler must have had a full course or both doses of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before arriving in England, but for Indian nationals, there is virtually no change, as India has to follow guidelines on travel. of the so-called Amber List. Indians will still have to undergo tests and a ten-day quarantine upon arrival.
The UK has divided other countries into red, amber and green colors and applies quarantine and COVID-19 test rules based on category. India comes under the Amber List.
Even if people are fully vaccinated, being on the Amber List, they will need to undergo a COVID-19 test 2 days or earlier when traveling to the UK.
After passengers reach England, they will have to be quarantined at home or where they are staying for 10 days. They have to undergo a COVID-19 test on or before the second day of arrival and on or after the eighth day.
However, there are some exemptions as well. Those on the Amber List do not need to be quarantined, who are part of the UK vaccination program or have received an approved vaccine dose in Europe or the US.
This approval to Covishield in the UK comes after India’s warning of “reciprocal measures” on 21 September. India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called these guidelines “discriminatory”.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also raised the issue of the need to quarantine Covid-vaccinated travelers in the UK with newly-appointed British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss at a meeting in New York.
The amended rules drew sharp criticism in India and the opposition Congress urged the government to intervene immediately and ensure that Indian travelers do not face any inconvenience.
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