Covid-19 rules and restrictions for travel are set to change again, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
Boris Johnson announced today that passengers to the UK will no longer need to take a pre-departure Covid test.
He also announced that the requirement to self-isolate on arrival to England until receiving a negative PCR result will be scrapped.
Instead, people can take a lateral flow test on their second day in England, and order a further PCR test if the lateral flow result is positive.
The relaxation in Covid travel rules will apply from 4am on Friday, January 7.
ADVERTISEMENT
The PM said the change to measures is a way to ‘live with Covid without letting our guard down’.
Speaking to the House of Commons, Mr Johnson confirmed that the Government is set to stick with Plan B measures for another three weeks.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said: “When the Omicron variant was first identified, we rightly introduced travel restrictions to slow its arrival in our country.
“But now Omicron is so prevalent, these measures are having limited impact on the growth in cases, while continuing to pose significant costs to our travel industry.
“So I can announce that in England from 4am on Friday we will be scrapping the pre-departure test, which discourages many from travelling for fear of being trapped overseas and incurring significant extra expense.
“We will also be lifting the requirement to self-isolate on arrival until receipt of a negative PCR, returning instead to the system we had in October last year, where those arriving in England will need to take a lateral flow test no later than the end of day two, and if positive, a further PCR test to help us identify any new variants at the border.
“Mr Speaker, all these measures are balanced and proportionate ways of ensuring we can live with Covid without letting our guard down.
“And we can only do this thanks to the biggest and fastest booster campaign in Europe.”
He ended his statement by urging people to get their booster jabs, saying there are two million appointments available in the next week alone.
ADVERTISEMENT
Reacting to the news, Charlie Cornish, CEO at Manchester Airport Group, said: “Today’s announcement is very positive news and will help restart the recovery of the travel and tourism sector.
“The removal of these temporary measures is important recognition that travel restrictions should not remain in place if they no longer help prevent the spread of the virus.
“By removing barriers to travel in what is a critical period for forward-booking, passengers, airports, airlines and business across the UK can now plan ahead with confidence.
“We look forward to working with Government on a roadmap for the removal of all remaining restrictions, in order to help our prized aviation sector enjoy a full recovery.”
Featured image: Gov.uk / Unsplash
News
Andy Burnham wants to bring the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to Westminster
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has set out his vision for the country if he is to become Prime Minister.
In case you need brining up to speed first, after it was announced earlier this month that Andy Burnham had clinched the victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231, he then went onto announce his intention to run for Labour Party leader, and therefore Prime Minister, after Keir Starmer confirmed he would be stepping down.
And this week, Mr Burnham has now delivered his first speech as part of his ongoing campaign, addressing how he plans to give the country a ‘new direction’.
Burnham says that he wants to bring the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to Westminster.
A lot has been discussed and reported on when it comes to Burnham’s intentions to create a so-called Number 10 North here in Manchester, but what exactly does it mean to take the ‘Greater Manchester way’ to the capital?
“The Greater Manchester way is based on strong partnership between all sectors: public, private, community, voluntary, academic, faith, and our trade unions,” Burnham said in his speech.
He continued: “When I started as Mayor in 2017, we set about building a new approach, a new politics based on the exact opposite of the Westminster approach.
“Place-first, not party-first. Problem-solving, not point-scoring. Long-term, not short-term.
“A decade on, it’s incredible how much we’ve been able to achieve by working together instead of fighting against one another.”
Burnham said he feels the truth is that the country spends ‘too much time arguing and not enough time doing’ and that for Britain to get back where it ‘should be’, his Government would ask everyone to ‘face the same way’ and then ‘pull in that same direction together’.
He declared that No 10 North will be the ‘nerve centre’ for a rewired Britain.
“It will be the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources across the UK,” he concluded. “It will coordinate all parts of Government, at national and local level, to agree a long-term economic strategy and help all places set new growth ambitions.”
Featured Image – GMCA
News
Body of missing 15-year-old boy recovered from water at Salford country park
Emily Sergeant
The body of a missing 15-year-old boy has sadly been recovered from the water at a country park in Salford.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a teenager getting in to difficulty in the water at Clifton Country Park in Salford at around 4:51pm this past Saturday (27 June).
Since then, emergency services – including partners from Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – have been working together to locate the missing boy.
But despite their best efforts, a body was, unfortunately, located in the water yesterday (29 June).
The body was recovered from the water by specialists at North West Under Water Search and Marine Unit, GMP confirmed.
Formal identification is yet to take place, but police are supporting the family of the missing boy in the meantime.
“Saturday’s incident is truly heartbreaking,” commented Detective Inspector Dave Ogden, from the Salford CID.
“My thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life. While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water.
“We understand people want to make the most of the warm weather, but we would urge everyone to stay safe and avoid entering reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.
“Please take care and enjoy the weather in a safe way.”
Daisy Jackson -
5th January 2022 
