Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason South Africa remains on the covid-19 red list as at 14 December 2021; and when he plans to review that matter.

South Africa was removed from the red list at 4am on 15 December. As Omicron cases rise in the UK and in countries around the world, the travel red list is less effective in slowing the incursion of this variant from abroad and managed quarantine measures are no longer proportionate. Additional temporary testing measures remain in place to help prevent additional cases of Omicron from entering the UK and will be reviewed in early January.