India brought back strict lockdown measures in response to the Delta variant, but the roll-out of the vaccine is a major concern
Just two months ago India was the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was recording over 400,000 new infections per day – more than any other country at any point – and over 4,000 daily deaths.
Now, however, it is slowly coming closer to being added to the amber list, after managing to bring the virus back under control.
India brought back strict lockdown measures in response to the Delta variant, but the rollout of the vaccine is a major concern, with less than five per cent of the population having received two doses of the jab.
When is the next traffic light review?
The Government is reviewing the traffic-light system every three weeks.
That means the next announcement should come on Thursday 15 July, with any changes coming into effect the following week.
The Department for Transport has said: “These regular review points will allow the Government to balance helping the public to understand Covid requirements when travelling to England while allowing us to constantly evaluate the risk for different countries.”
India Covid cases
As of Wednesday 7 July, India’s seven-day infection rate is 22 per 100,000 people. This is significantly below the UK’s figure of 262 per 100,000.
However, India is unlikely to made the amber list at the upcoming travel review due to its low vaccination rates. It has administered more than 351 million doses, but less than five per cent of the adult population is double-jabbed.
Boris Johnson has confirmed that the Government plans to bring in quarantine-free travel from amber list countries for people who are fully vaccinated.
The change is set to come in from 19 July – the same day all remaining lockdown restrictions are set to be dropped in England.
“We will maintain our tough border controls including the red list, and recognising the protection afforded by two doses of vaccine, we will work with the travel industry towards removing the need for fully vaccinated arrivals to isolate on return from an amber country,” the Prime Minister said.
