Dr Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, told the Commons Transport Committee Wednesday that Omicron is "probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic".

Dr Harries said case numbers of the new variant could be "staggering" in the next few days in the UK.

The need for travel restrictions to control omicron is "reduced", but there is "still value" to some measures, she also said.

The chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency told MPs of the transport select committee: "I think travel restrictions have a time and place."

The UK's "very early restrictions" gave authorities "time to prepare, to understand, to boost particularly our population", she said. "But actually it's really important that where there isn't a benefit, countries are clearly freed from those restrictions.

Read more here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/covid-travel-pass-news-test-restrictions-update-red-list/

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