Testing rules for travellers to the UK will revert largely to where they were months ago, the health secretary has said.
Airlines, holiday firms and cruise and ferry lines are aghast at the latest government U-turn, just a week after the red list was revived and testing rules toughened.
Sajid Javid has also extended the red list, requiring travellers returning from Nigeria who arrive after 4am on Monday 6 December to go into hotel quarantine at a cost of thousands of pounds.
These are the key questions and answers.
What has changed?
Just a week after toughening the rules on testing, the government has added extra Covid-19 checks for everyone travelling to the UK from any foreign country except Ireland.
In addition, arrivals from Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, will need to enter “managed isolation”, as hotel quarantine is known, for 11 nights. They join travellers from 10 southern African countries.
The move is in response to concerns about the spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus. It follows 21 cases of omicron reported in England that are linked to travel from Africa’s most populous nation.
Mr Javid tweeted: “In light of the most recent data we are taking further action to slow the incursion of the omicron variant.
“From 4am Monday, only UK and Irish citizens and residents travelling from Nigeria will be allowed entry and must isolate in a managed quarantine facility.
“And, from 4am Tuesday, anyone travelling to the UK from countries not on the red list will be required to take a pre-departure test, regardless of their vaccination status.”
The rule applies to all travellers aged 12 or over.
The health secretary added: “Vaccines remain our first line of defence – the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
“Please get vaccinated or #GetBoosted as soon as you can.”
What tests will I now need?
From 4am on Tuesday arrivals must take a pre-departure test, which can be lateral flow/rapid antigen, in addition to the post-arrival…