US advises citizens against travel to UK amid rising COVID-19 cases

The US has cautioned its citizens against travelling to the UK over the country’s rising COVID-19 cases. 

The development comes 24 hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted all COVID-19 restrictions in the UK.

The restrictions, which ended on Sunday midnight, put an end to rules on mask-wearing.

Limits on the number of people who can mix indoor or outdoor have also ended, while social distancing is only limited to people who have tested positive for the virus.

According to the travel advisory issued by the US State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the UK risk assessment for COVID-19 has been raised to a “very high level”.

The CDC advised citizens who must travel to the UK to ensure that they are fully vaccinated.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for the United Kingdom due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country,” the statement  reads.

“There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into the United Kingdom. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.”

According to the UK’s latest COVID update, 5,473,477 cases have been confirmed in the country while 152,856 people have died from the virus.