Fully vaccinated UK nationals arriving in India will be subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine, in response to similar measures imposed on Indian nationals.
All UK nationals arriving in India from Monday will have to take COVID-19 tests and undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
The move comes after Indian Foreign Minister Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Britain’s move not to recognize India’s version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, as “discriminatory.” He had warned against reciprocal measures if London did not reverse its decision.
India mainly relies on the Covishield vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and manufactured in India by Pune-based Serum Institute, which is not recognized by the UK under new rules, despite being identical to the doses given to millions of Britons.
Last month, sources within the government had warned of retaliation after Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he had urged for an early resolution after a meeting with his British counterpart at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, said earlier this week that it will resume exports and donations of excess COVID-19 vaccines this month after a month-long freeze due to a massive surge in local infections.
(With input from agencies)
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