India hits back at UK with quarantine rules

NEW DELHI: UK nationals travelling to India will have to undergo 10-day mandatory quarantine even if they are fully vaccinated under reciprocal measures to be enforced from October 4, marking an escalation in the vaccine certification row between the two countries.

The Indian side made the decision on Friday as the UK has not yet taken a call on accepting India’s vaccine certification more than 10 days after the conclusion of technical discussions that were expected to resolve the matter. The row erupted because Indians travelling to the UK will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine under new British travel rules that come into force from October 4. The UK’s failure to recognise Covishield, the Indian variant of the Britain’s AstraZeneca jab, had also given rise to allegations of vaccine racism.

Though the UK recently included Covishield in its list of approved vaccines, the process for accepting India’s vaccine certification is expected to take more time.

“India has decided to impose reciprocity on British nationals arriving in India from the UK,” a

The row erupted after the UK on Sept 17 unveiled new rules under which Indians travelling to the country will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine

OXFORD-ASTRAZENECA PFIZER-BIONTECH MODERNA

JANSSEN

India called the British govt’s failure to recognise Covishield, the Indian version of the OxfordAstraZeneca jab, discriminatory. The vaccine was later added to the UK’s list of approved vaccines

The govt has decided to put in place a 10-day quarantine for UK nationals travelling from the UK

First, within 24-hours before departure, second, on arrival at the airport, third, on eighth day after arrival

UK is yet to take a call on accepting India’s vaccine certification after the conclusion of talks on the issue. India included date of birth in its certificates to meet British criteria