The UK government announced on Saturday that all travelers arriving at UK airports as of today, Tuesday, will be required to have a negative anti-covid-19 test, which must be taken no later than 48 hours before arrival in the country.

According to the British Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid these requirements are part of a national plan to limit the spread of the virus, following the discovery of a new variant in southern African countries, and already widespread in several other countries.

"Currently, travelers need only self-isolate until the test is negative within two days of their arrival," says the British Secretary of State for Health.

Alongside these rules, Sajid Javid revealed that the British government's strategy since the discovery of the Omnicron variant had been to "buy time" to assess and "put protective measures in place."

"There are already 27 cases in England and that is growing and Nigeria is now second only to South Africa in terms of cases linked to the Omicron variant."

However, Javid added that the London government had "been clear and said it would take whatever action was necessary," adding that it was important to remember that vaccines "are our first line of defense." He also appealed for Britons to take a booster dose of an anti-covid-19 vaccine when called upon to do so by the National Health Service.