UK’S OMICRON CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FOR NIGERIANS; SUSPENSION OF VISA APPLICATION
The UK and Canada have put up strict travel rules due to the Omicron Coronavirus variant, for some African countries like South Africa and Nigeria, to help protect their citizens against the deadly virus.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID 19)
Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease that causes respiratory illness and can eventually lead to death without proper treatment. Ever since the emergence of this deadly virus in December 2019, which led to a general lockdown for up to 4months, the virus has continued to spread and have produced new variants.
Several preventive measures have been put in place to curb the spread of this deadly virus, measures like Wearing face masks, Using alcohol-based hand sanitisers, Washing of hands frequently and properly, giving a distance of 2 meters between others etc.
Not only were these preventive measures put in place to curb the virus, but vaccines were also produced to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. The different types of covid19 vaccines are Oxford/ AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.
Aside from the vaccines and preventive measures that were adopted, countries also put up rules and regulations to protect their citizens from contracting the deadly virus, like the traffic light system rules.
OMICRON VIRUS (COVID 19 VARIANT )
Viruses repeatedly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations produce new variants of the virus. Some variants emerge and disappear while others persist.
Coronavirus 2019 (Covid 19) emerged in 2019 with the Alpha Variant and over time other variants have emerged. Variants like the Beta variant which was discovered on the 18th of December, 2020, the Gamma variant which was discovered on the 11th of January 2021, the Delta variant which was discovered within April and May, 2021. Now, a new variant has just been discovered and is known it be more deadly, as it can easily spread compared to other variants, this variant is the Omicron variant which was discovered between the 24th – 26th of November, 2021.
Covid Vaccines have been known to protect against severe hospitalization and deaths of those that are infected with the coronavirus, therefore people are being advised to get vaccinated. Cases of the Omicron virus have been found in African countries like Nigeria, South African etc and not up to one-third of the Nigerian population have been vaccinated, this led to countries like the UK and Canada putting up strict rules that affect Nigeria as a whole.
Following the discovery of the Delta and Omicron virus, the world health organization (who) has concluded that individuals get administered a booster shot ( this is a third dose of the covid vaccine) this dose helps to improve the protection from the first 2 doses of the covid vaccine.
SUSPENSION OF UK VISITING VISA APPLICATION.
The UK invented the travel light system rules to protect their citizens from this deadly virus by laying travel restrictions and rules. The travel light system rules consist of the green light list, the amber light list and the red light list.
Countries that are currently under the UK green and amber light list are allowed to travel to the UK under strict conditions. However, countries under the UK red light list, who are not citizens or residents of the UK are prohibited from entering the UK.
On Monday, the 6th of December, 2021, succeeding the discovery of the Omicron virus, Nigeria was moved from the UK green light list to the red light list. However, the red light list travel ban affects only individuals with the intent to travel to the UK on a visiting visa, as there has been a suspension of the UK visiting visa application in Nigeria. This means that all tourists and businessmen from Nigeria have been banned from entering the UK and UK visiting visa applications in Nigeria have been suspended.
This new rule has left a lot of Nigerians panicking, especially those with the intention to travel to the UK for the holidays, however, the UK government will review the new rule by the 20th of December, 2021. This date has been put in place to monitor and observe the spread of the Omicron Virus, as the 20th of December will make it 3 weeks since the virus is discovered.
As some Nigerians are greatly affected by this sudden news, other Nigerians are lucky to escape the travel ban that has been placed on Nigeria even after being moved to the red list. These are individuals applying for a UK student visa and a work visa.
Nigerians with the intentions to travel to the UK to study or work will be allowed entry into the UK regardless of the UK red light rules, however, strict rules have been put in place for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Nigerians. These are rules:
- Passenger Locator Form must be filled 48 hours before entry into the UK
- A Covid Predeparture test must be done 72 hours before entry into the UK
- Individuals must do 10 days quarantine after entry into the UK
- Covid test should be taken on the 2nd day after the entry into the UK
- Further covid testing will be taken on the 8th day after the entry into the UK
Due to the recent Covid 19 update and sudden change in rules by the UK government, we advise that all applicants for the UK student and work visa application, apply for their visas on time as there are uncertainties as to how long it will take for the student and work visas to be issued.
Speak with our counsellors today for detailed information on the UK Omicron Coronavirus update for Nigerians
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