As cases surge around the world, Covid travel restrictions could return for a number of foreign countries, according to Good Morning Britain's resident GP Dr Hilary Jones. In the the last two years, when travel was allowed, sometimes new restrictions were suddenly brought in while people were overseas.
It saw holidaymakers having to scramble to get back to the UK as quickly as possible. Now restrictions could return, warns Dr Jones, and he has advised people to take precautions, reports WalesOnline.
He said: "Other countries could equally say, I think there are large numbers of cases in Italy at the moment, they could say 'Right you're going to need a Covid pass, you're going to need proof of vaccination or recent infection or you're going to need a test before you travel.
Read more: New 'super booster' Covid vaccine could be approved for use in UK within days
"So I would say to people who are traveling, look at the foreign travel advice for that country, see if you need a test before you fly and see if your NHS Covid pass works."
According to Dr Jones, some Covid measures also need to be taken here in the UK as the number of cases go up. "We're still in a pandemic, but this is gong to become endemic," he said. "We're going to have to live with this virus.
"So while I don't think we need mandatory precautions such as mask-wearing and other lockdowns, I think what we do want is hand sanitisation to be routine. And I think it's sensible to give people the advice to wear a mask on a crowded tube train."
As hospital cases with Covid are expected to rise further, according to health chief, Dame Jenny Harries. She said it does not look as though the current wave has peaked, although she urged people to "go about their normal lives" but in a "precautionary way".
The comments by Dame Jenny, the UK Health Security Agency chief executive, come days after the latest figures showed Covid-19 infections in the UK had leapt by more than half a million in a week. NHS Providers said hospital trust leaders "know they are in for a bumpy ride over the coming months" with variants of Covid-19 alongside the normal seasonal flu pressures which could hit earlier than usual this year.
A total of 2.3 million people in private households are estimated to have had the virus last week, up 32% from a week earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is the highest estimate for total infections since late April, but is still some way below the record of 4.9 million at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave at the end of March.
Dame Jenny appealed to the "nearly 20% of the 75-plus year-old group" who have not had their spring booster to come forward.
Meanwhile, Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, the membership organisation for NHS hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services, said there is no room for complacency.
"Trust leaders know they are in for a bumpy ride over the coming months as they tackle new and unpredictable variants of Covid-19 alongside grappling with seasonal flu pressures which may hit us earlier than usual this year," she said.
"The policy of living with Covid does not mean Covid has gone away. The latest data shows we cannot afford to be complacent with currently small but concerning increases over the past week in the number of patients both being admitted to hospital with Covid-19 and those needing a ventilator.
"Warnings from Dr Jenny Harries today that community infection rates and hospital admissions are expected to rise further is concerning. Waves of Covid-19 and flu will put additional pressure on stretched NHS staff and services and their efforts to tackle waiting lists, deliver efficiencies and transform the NHS, as well as on our hard-pressed colleagues in social care."
Read Next
-
Brits urged to wear masks again as Covid hospital cases 'likely' to hit 18-month high
-
Seven reasons why people have never had Covid - or so they think
-
Covid vaccine dilemma for health bosses as cases surge in the UK
-
' Not enough' Covid vaccines in Newcastle as case rates climb and outbreaks reported in care homes
