The United Kingdom has added Nigeria to its Red List category as it tightens travel restrictions in an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

On Wednesday, Nigeria confirmed its first cases of the Omicron variant, linked to travellers from South Africa and since then the country has not reported any new cases of the ‘variant of concern’.

In a statement via his verified Twitter handle, the UK Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid, wrote that only residents and citizens of the UK and Ireland travelling from Nigeria would be allowed entry into the region.

Javid who wrote that all international arrivals to the UK from Nigeria will now be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests, added that they will have to quarantine at their arrival.

He wrote, “In light of the most recent data we are taking further action to slow the incursion of the Omicron variant.

“From 4 am Monday, only UK/Irish citizens and residents travelling from Nigeria will be allowed entry and must isolate in a managed quarantine facility.”

South Africa and nine other Southern African countries were added to the red list last weekend, meaning that entry is only allowed to UK citizens or residents who then must quarantine in a hotel.