Speaking on Friday’s Chopper’s Politics Podcast earlier this week, the Transport Secretary advised taking a “calibrated response” to imposing new restrictions as Omicron variant cases continue to climb.
He said: “Do you want to kill off the travel sector again without knowing that you need to? Or do you want to take the right level of calibrated response?
“This Government thinks we should take a calibrated response, which doesn’t take us right back to the beginning of this [pandemic] …
“I believe in transport and I don’t want to see a world where we’re always finding excuses to restrict it.
“Of course, you’ve got to respond responsibly. That’s what I think we’ve done.”
However, on Saturday night, a joint statement from Mr Javid and Mr Shapps revealed rules would be tightened, now requiring travellers heading to the UK take a Covid test before their departure.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the tightened requirements would come into force from 4.00am on Tuesday morning.
Everyone aged 12 and over will be required to take a pre-departure test a maximum of 48 hours before…
