Egypt, Britain discuss travel conditions after removal from ‘red list’

CAIRO: Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed has spoken with Gareth Bailey, the British Ambassador to Cairo, about enhancing travel cooperation between the two countries after Egypt was removed from the UK’s “red list,” a group of nations with stricter travel measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The meeting discussed different ways to meet the requirements for travellers going from Egypt to Britain, as those who have been vaccinated in Egypt are still required to self isolate on arrival. 

They discussed the ongoing procedures of the British Department of Health and Social Care to expedite the approval of vaccination certificates from Egypt. 

Zayed stressed the necessary health measures taken to facilitate the movement between Egypt and the UK, especially for the purposes of treatment and education, as well as tourism for citizens from both countries.

The minister also discussed cooperation between Egypt and Britain in professional medical education, through the Ministry of Health and Population and the British Royal College, to develop training programs in various medical specialties and adopt them in the Egyptian fellowship program.

Zayed thanked the ambassador and the British government for providing Cairo with 299,680 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in mid-August, and stressed the importance of the relations between the countries in fighting the pandemic.

Bailey affirmed Britain’s keenness to continue permanent and fruitful cooperation with Egypt at various levels and areas of common interest, praising Egypt’s strategy in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He indicated London’s keenness to continue cooperation with Egypt in the health sector and to provide all necessary support.