Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said that the UK government does “recognise the challenge the re-introduction or pre-departure testing poses on the travel industry” and has hinted that further support measures could be in the pipeline if restrictions over the Omicron variant are long-lasting.
Mr. Javid said the government would have “much more data on the variant” by next week and stressed this would allow ministers to make a decision on whether travel restrictions can be eased, or if the government needs to look at further measures to support the industry.
“We will update the house and hopefully have much more data on the variant by next week. Hopefully, if that data is helpful, then pressures can be eased in the travel sector. Should it be less helpful for the travel sector, the government will have time to review what other measures they might be able to take to help.
“Next week’s update – the review point – will be important to provide more certainty. We cannot guarantee we will have all the answers to our questions, but that information will certainly help to provide more certainty,” he added.
