More countries removed from NI travel red list

Q Radio News/PA

The majority of countries on Northern Ireland’s red list for travel will be removed on Monday, the Department of Health has announced.

The decision mirrors an earlier announcement made in Westminster for England’s red list.

Forty-seven countries, including South Africa, Mexico and Thailand, are to be removed from 4am on Monday.

Only seven countries will be left on the red list – Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

NI Dept. Health travel update:

Changes to red list
From 4am on Monday 11 October the red list will only include the following seven countries:
•Colombia
•Dominican Republic
•Ecuador
•Haiti
•Panama
•Peru
•Venezuela https://t.co/s2zqadZoG1

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 7, 2021

Earlier this month, the rules for international travel to Northern Ireland changed from the traffic light system to the red light list and simplified travel measures for arrivals from non-red list countries who meet the fully vaccinated criteria.

To qualify as fully vaccinated individuals must have had both vaccinations at least 14 days prior to travel under an approved vaccination programme.

From 4am on Monday, the list of approved programmes will be extended to include vaccination programmes in a further 38 countries, including Brazil, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey.

Anyone arriving in Northern Ireland from a red list country must adhere to all testing and quarantine requirements, regardless of vaccination status.