The United Kingdom (UK) has released a list of 50 countries it recognises their COVID19 vaccine certificates and Sierra Leone is conspicuously absent from the list.

This means that fully vaccinated Sierra Leoneans travelling to the UK still need to self-isolate for 10 days. No other African country was on the list.

Sierra Leone is still among the countries which has restrictions for travellers to the UK, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated against COVID.

In a statement on its website, the UK government released a list of over 50 countries with approved COVID-19 vaccination programmes and proof of vaccination for travel to England.

“Fully vaccinated residents in other countries not yet part of the inbound policy, as well as those partially vaccinated, will still have to take a pre-departure test, PCR tests for day 2 and day 8 after arrival, and self-isolate for 10 days, with the option to test to release after 5 days.

“The UK government is continuing to work with international partners as we seek to more regularly expand the policy to further countries and territories.” The government said the new simplified travel system meant that eligible fully vaccinated passengers and eligible under-18s returning from over 50 countries and territories not on the red list, can do so without needing to complete a pre-departure test (PDT), a day 8 test or enter a 10-day self-isolation period, making it easier for those travelling.”, the statement in part read.

It added that eligible fully vaccinated passengers with an approved vaccine and recognised certificate from a country not on the red list would be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England.