Three additional cases of the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 have been detected in Nigeria.
This was confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday.
According to a statement by Ifedayo Adetifa, the NCDC director-general, the new cases were detected in individuals with recent travel history to South Africa.
The British High Commission on Sunday said it would pause making decisions on visitor visa applications from all red list countries including Nigeria.
The commission announced the decision in a statement.
On Saturday, Nigeria was added by the United Kingdom to a red list over Omicron, a variant of Coronavirus.
Following the latest development, all international arrivals to the UK will now be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests, the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, said on Saturday.
UK citizens and residents will be able to enter the country from Nigeria but they will have to pay to stay in quarantine for 10 days.
The change starts from 4:00 am on Monday, according to Javid.
“Nigeria is second only to South Africa for cases linked to Omicron,” he had said.
Meanwhile, a statement from the British High Commission in Nigeria reads, “To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from COVID-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted. Visit visas cover travel to the UK for:
“Tourism; Visiting family and friends; Undertaking short-term business activities (for example, attending meetings); Undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months); Taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic; Medical reasons (for example, receiving private medical treatment)
”If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.
“You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
”If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country, you will not be allowed to enter. Separate guidance is available for travellers entering Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories
“Only where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances will visit visas be issued or entry permitted to visit England from a red list country whilst travel restrictions remain in place. There are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases.”
