The government has decided to relax the rules – but it shouldn’t do it like this
On the same day that the first wave of holidaymakers jetted off to Portugal, experts warned that the Covid variant first discovered in India was set to become the dominant strain in the UK within days. The rapid transmission of B.1.617.2 casts doubt over plans for a full reopening of the economy on 21 June, and could lead to local lockdowns or – according to one expert – require the reversal of some relaxations.
The government has been rightly criticised for its delay in putting India on the red list for travel. The issue now is whether it learns from its errors. While experts including Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, suggest that only “absolutely essential” travel should proceed, airlines and travel firms are already pressing for more countries to be moved to the green list. The government has told people not to holiday in amber list countries, but allows such holidays to remain on sale.
