India makes quarantine must for UK nationals in quid pro quo
04 Oct 2021
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India has made a 10-day quarantine mandatory for all UK nationals, including fully vaccinated, arriving in the country. in response to similar measures imposed on Indian nationals by the UK.
Starting on Monday, all British arrivals – irrespective of their vaccination status – will have to present a negative Covid-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure, and undergo a mandatory quarantine period of 10 days and a fresh test on the eighth day of arrival in India.
The move comes after India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Britain’s decision not to recognise the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, “discriminatory”. He had warned of reciprocal measures should London fail to reconsider.
The British government last month announced that it would allow fully vaccinated travellers to skip quarantine and take fewer tests, but only after vaccination under the American, British or European programmes or those authorised by a UK-approved health body.
The irony is the fact that the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, produced in India under the name Covishield, used be the UK health authorities in that country is recognised while the same vaccine used by Indian health authorites won’t be recognised in the UK.
The vast majority of Indians have been vaccinated with Indian-made AstraZeneca shots, which has been produced by Serum Institute of India. Others have received Covaxin, a vaccine produced indigenously by an Indian company
India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, announced earlier this week that it would resume donations of surplus coronavirus vaccines after it froze exports due to a surge in domestic infections.
The British High Commission in India said that it is still working with the Indian government to 'expand UK recognition of vaccination certification' issued in India.
"We are continuing to engage with the Government of India on technical cooperation to expand UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India," ANI quoted a spokesperson of the British High Commission in India as saying.
