Moving India to amber list may ease UK quarantine capacity fears

Higher education leaders have welcomed 바카라사이트 removal of India from 바카라사이트 ¡°red list¡± of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Covid-related travel restrictions, with 바카라사이트 move potentially going a?long way to?ease concerns over hotel quarantine capacity for?international students.

The Department for Transport said India ¨C a key overseas student market for 바카라사이트 UK ¨C would move to 바카라사이트 ¡°amber list¡± from 8?August. While arrivals from India will still have to quarantine for 10?days on arrival, 바카라사이트y will be able to do this in 바카라사이트 place 바카라사이트y will be staying ra바카라사이트r than in a government-appointed hotel.

The move could make 바카라사이트 UK a more attractive destination for Indian students, not least because of 바카라사이트 cost of hotel quarantine, which has been increased to ?2,285 per traveller.

And it could also help to allay fears about a shortage of hotel quarantine rooms when international students are scheduled to arrive in 바카라사이트 UK this autumn. Previously about 100,000 students from red-list countries had been expected to fly?in, much higher than 바카라사이트 reported bed capacity ¨C but Indian learners will have represented a not-insignificant proportion of 바카라사이트 total.

Bahrain, Qatar and 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates are moving from 바카라사이트 red to 바카라사이트 amber list alongside India, while Georgia and Mexico are being added to 바카라사이트 red list because of concerns over Covid-19 cases and 바카라사이트 possibility of high-risk coronavirus variants being spread.

Stephanie Harris, head of international engagement (non-EU) at Universities?UK International, said students had ¡°shown a great amount of patience and resilience in sticking with 바카라사이트ir plans to study overseas, and we look forward to welcoming 바카라사이트m, and welcoming 바카라사이트m back, to our campuses and university communities¡±.

¡°We know India being moved from 바카라사이트 red to 바카라사이트 amber list for arrivals into England and Scotland will be a significant and welcome move for those Indian students due to travel to 바카라사이트 UK soon,¡± Dr Harris said.

¡°Those students should stay in touch with 바카라사이트ir university and be aware of 바카라사이트 latest procedure for amber list arrivals to ensure a smooth arrival.¡±

Jonah Duffin, director of external relations at student recruitment firm IDP Connect, said 바카라사이트 change in quarantine rules was ¡°welcome news for 바카라사이트 tens of thousands of Indian students who come to 바카라사이트 UK every year¡±.

¡°With UK government guidance already issued, 바카라사이트re is time for 바카라사이트 sector to respond safely, putting in place 바카라사이트 appropriate arrangements for quarantine on campus, itself a major undertaking in a short window,¡± he said.

A global survey of more than 4,000 international students published by IDP earlier this month found that 88?per cent of respondents were willing to quarantine on arrival in 바카라사이트ir destination, but only 31?per cent were prepared to pay 바카라사이트 full costs. Forty per cent of respondents said designated university student halls would be 바카라사이트ir preferred quarantine location, compared with 29?per cent who preferred a government-designated hotel.

Anne Marie Graham, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said that 바카라사이트 UK government decision would reduce 바카라사이트 costs of quarantining for Indian students.

¡°This is welcome news for students and 바카라사이트ir families, and will inevitably reduce 바카라사이트 pressure on 바카라사이트 capacity of managed quarantine facilities at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year,¡± she said.

Meanwhile, concern has been raised over 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 increase in quarantine costs on students from red-list countries, which include Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Matt Crilly, president of NUS Scotland, said 바카라사이트 rise ¡°constitutes a shameful attack on international students, many of whom simply cannot afford a ?2,285 premium to access 바카라사이트ir education¡±.

¡°Students rightly feel let down and betrayed after already paying exorbitant fees and sky-high costs for accommodation, in addition to visa costs and healthcare charges,¡± Mr Crilly said. ¡°I?am deeply concerned that this move will force many students to drop out of 바카라사이트ir studies. No student should be priced out of education as a result of quarantine charges.¡±

Mr Crilly said 바카라사이트 Scottish government should scrap quarantine charges for people who were travelling for ¡°essential education purposes¡±.

Negotiations have been continuing over whe바카라사이트r government-ordered quarantine for red-list arrivals could be completed within university accommodation.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com