The British government on Tuesday confirmed that it would review its traffic light system for people entering the country later this week. According to British Education Minister Gillian Keegan, the Boris Johnson administration would review the traffic light system on Thursday 5 August.
The review would reveal the movements, if any, of countries currently placed under different traffic lights. India, for example, is under the red light, meaning that no one from the country can enter the UK unless they are British citizens or legal residents.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under immense pressure from his own cabinet colleagues such as Chancellor of Exchequer Rishi Sunak to ease travel restrictions for the British holiday makers in August.
Johnson on Tuesday said, “I understand how much people plan, prepare, for the summer holidays.” He added, ”
“But we have also got to remember this is still a dangerous virus and we must try and stop variants coming in, must stop importing variants from abroad, so we have to have a balanced approach. What I want to see is something that is as simple and as user-friendly for people as possible.”
The UK included India in the list of red countries in April this year. This means that no Indians would be allowed entry into the UK. Only British nationals and those legally allowed to reside in the UK can travel to the United Kingdom. They will, however, be required to quarantine themselves in a government-approved hotel for 11 days. The cost of the hotel quarantine is £ 1,750 for the first adult. This cost is over and above the ticket price that an individual has to pay.
Many have argued that since India has seen a considerable reduction in coronavirus cases with the vaccination drive gaining momentum. Experts have favoured the lifting of restrictions for Indians, who’ve had both the doses of the coronavirus vaccines.
The UK has adopted the traffic light system to restrict the flow of visitors from foreign countries. While anyone arriving from a red-list country is required to remain in a hotel quarantine for 11 days, those coming from amber list countries must isolate themselves inside their homes for 10 days. Only visitors from green list countries are not subjected to either hotel quarantine or home isolation.
The British government has, however, changed the rule for people arriving from amber list countries if they are fully vaccinated in the UK. The Tory government recently also allowed fully vaccinated people from the US and the EU to enter the UK without having to quarantine themselves.
Several reports recently highlighted the hardship faced by Indians, particularly students, who have to be in the UK before the start of their new academic year in September.