This is amid a growing backlash from the travel industry, Tory MPs and scientists at the reintroduction of pre-departure tests for all arrivals, as well as a requirement for all travellers to undergo a PCR test within two days of arrival.
Nigeria became the 11th country to go on the UK’s red list for international travelon Monday. All nations currently on that list are African.
The only people allowed to enter the UK from these countries are UK or Irish nationals, or UK residents. They will have to pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked government-approved hotel for a total of 10 days.
In a message to his 165,000 Twitter followers, the Archbishop urged the Government to abolish what he described as the “morally wrong” red list.
He said: “With #Omicron set to become the dominant variant in the UK, I appeal to the British government to remove Nigeria and South Africa from the red list – together with all other countries currently on it.
“We must find fair and effective approaches for those who are vaccinated and tested to enter the UK. I agree with the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK – we cannot have ‘travel apartheid’.
“It is also morally wrong – and self-defeating – effectively to punish other nations for being transparent when they discover new Covid variants, as @ArchbishopThabo of Cape Town has said.”