Why Pakistan is still in UK’s red list?

By:Dr Ashraf Chohan Chief (Chief Editor Daily Rapid Lahore ) based in London / Lahore.

It appears a little complex but it’s not. Here I explain all about listing how it is revised and when.

Also why Pakistan is still in the red list.

Day 2 tests are needed in all of the traffic light system’s levels, but when is day 2, and when do you take a test?

Testing has become a factor when it comes to international travel, and many will need to take tests when they return.

Day two tests are needed in every level of the traffic-light system,

When do I take a day 2 test?

The day two test must be taken either on or before day two. The days are counted from the day after arrival. For example, if you arrive on a Friday then day one is Saturday and day two is Sunday.
You must book and pay for a day two test before you travel. Make sure you leave enough time for it to be delivered to your address in England.
You could be fined if you do not take the required test.

It does not matter for how long you are visiting England you must still take one.

You will need to enter the booking reference number on your passenger locator form.

Even if you’ve been fully vaccinated you must self-isolate for 10 days if your day two test is positive.

Who needs to take a day 2 test?

The short answer is everyone who arrives in England and Wales.
Arrivals from green-list countries need to take a pre-departure test (which can be a lateral flow or PCR test) as well as a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival back into the UK.

However, they do not need to quarantine on return (unless they receive a positive result on day two) or take any additional tests.
Previously, this was unique to the green list, with anybody returning from an amber country having to quarantine for 10 days (although they could take a “test to release” on day five), as well as taking PCR tests on days two and eight.

If you have been double jabbed you are also exempt from the day eight Covid test, although you must still take one on day two.
Most of the most popular countries are either on the green or amber lists, such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Germany and France.

What is travel traffic light system and When is the next travel review?

Reviews of the UK’s traffic light travel restrictions take place every three weeks,

25 August
15 September
29 September

What are the rules of the traffic light system?

The traffic light system is decided based on the following criteria:

* The percentage of a country’s population that have been vaccinated
* The rate of infection
* The prevalence of variants of concern
* The country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing

There are now four traffic light categories,

Green: Arrivals must take a pre-departure test three days before returning to the UK as well as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on or before day two of their return. Quarantine does not apply (unless the Covid test returns positive) and there is no requirement for additional tests.

Green watchlist: The same rules as the green list. However, countries on this list are “at risk of moving from green to amber”, potentially at very short notice.

Amber: All travellers must take a pre-departure test three days before return as well as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on or before day two of their return. Unvaccinated travellers must also self isolate for 10 days and take a second PCR test on day eight. An optional extra day-five test can be taken, with a negative result allowing unvaccinated travellers to “test out” of quarantine. The day-eight PCR test must still be taken regardless of the result of the optional day-five PCR test.

Red: Arrivals from red list countries must undertake a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel at a cost of £1,750 per single adult (there are extra charges for more people in a family group), pre-departure testing, and mandatory PCR testing on or before day two and on or after day eight. The price of staying in a quarantine hotel will rise for bookings made on or after 4am on 12 August – it will cost £2,285 for a single adult.

Why Pakistan is in the red list When it can move to Amber ? What Government of Pakistan should do.

Pakistani high commission in the UK claimed that they had access to UK authorities and done some thing to change category for Pakistan. A. There was only only cursory interaction in Sandhurst not linked to travel issues B. Pakistan High Commission is ineffective in the opinion of the writer C. The following minimum conclusive steps are needed by Pakistan.

1- To produce a genuine & in high percentage of the country’s population that have been vaccinated

2- Pakistan must have access to a reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing

Unless above two conditions are satisfactory Pakistan will remain in red.

Where to take the Travel Tests.

The writer believes that the following companies have most reliable service & competitive fee structure.

From UK Government-approved COVID-19 private testing provider.

rapidclinics.co.uk | UKAS Accredited
1WestendMedicalpracticeuk.com
www.quickclinics.co.uk/

Tests available.

Fit to fly
It is essential that you have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result and fit to fly certification. Visit our Covid-19 testing centre near Marylebone Station London and receive fit to fly certificate next-day which is Accepted by all international airlines.

Mandatory Day 2 & Day 8 Test
The UK government requires all people returning to the UK who are not vaccinated (or those vaccinated by other than the NHS) to take a Day 2 & Day 8 test upon arrival to England (rules for Scotland may vary). Those arriving from an amber list country are mandated to self isolate and produce negative results before release. For UK residents who are vaccinated by the NHS and are returning from Amber list countries are exempt from isolation and require a Day 2 test only.

Day 5 Test to release
If you have returned from a country which requires quarantine or an isolation period, you may be able to end it early if you take a Test to Release PCR.

Costs:- The most competitive in the UK offering Full range of tests – Fit-to-Fly £79 , Day 2 and Day 8 £124, Test-to-Release £67 and Antigen tests for £39 only.

Finally save this QR Code for easy access to book.