- After Soth Africa vehemently disputed the UK’s decision to retain South Africa in the red list of high-risk countries, the UK High Commission in Pretoria had a meeting with the South African Department of Health and local scientific and health experts to discuss the issue.
- The continued inclusion on the red list barred foreigners outright and forces British citizens to undergo hotel quarantine on arrival at a cost of as much as R46,000.
After Soth Africa vehemently disputed the UK’s decision to retain South Africa in the red list of high-risk countries, the UK High Commission in Pretoria had a meeting with the South African Department of Health and local scientific and health experts to discuss the issue. The continued inclusion on the red list barred foreigners outright and forces British citizens to undergo hotel quarantine on arrival at a cost of as much as R46,000. UK High Commission in South Africa said that the reason was concern over the beta variant of Covid-19, which it said showed signs of vaccine resistance. The UK also insisted on vaccination in a select group of countries, regardless of which shot they were given.
Continuing in the red list has put a lot of stress on the local tourism industry, the major revenue earner of the country. The country has officially exited its third wave of coronavirus infections, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases claimed, with daily new infections falling below 1,000.
According to sources, the UK expressed its willingness to take forward the discussions and assured that the data shared by local scientists would be taken into consideration for the next review of the list due to take place within the next fortnight. It was also revealed that the UK’s travel rules are being overhauled from Monday, 4 October, with the removal of the ‘traffic light’ system of labelling countries. The UK will only have a red list in place. The UK said that it was proposing to review its recognition of vaccine certificated across the world as early as possible
