Journey to the UK from the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda will probably be banned as the federal government takes additional motion to stop the unfold of the COVID variant first present in South Africa.
From 1pm on Friday, non-British or Irish passengers who’ve been in or transited by means of these nations within the final 10 days will not be granted entry to the UK.
British and Irish nationals, or different nationals with residence rights within the UK, will nonetheless be capable to enter the nation however should self-isolate for 10 days at house.
They won’t have the choice to scale back their isolation interval with a damaging COVID take a look at.
Any journey exemptions normally in place, together with for enterprise journey, won’t apply.
There may also be a ban on direct passenger flights from the UAE, which is made up of seven emirates together with Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
As a part of the motion, from 4am on Friday all arrivals who’ve been within the UAE, Burundi or Rwanda within the 10 days earlier than their arrival should self-isolate – in addition to their households – instantly and will be unable to make use of the “take a look at to launch” scheme to shorten their quarantine interval.
The federal government mentioned it took the choice so as to add three extra nations to the UK’s journey “crimson listing” as a result of issues the South African variant could have unfold to the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda.
There at the moment are 33 nations on the “crimson listing”, which additionally consists of all these in South America, in addition to giant components of Southern Africa and Portugal.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced UK nationals and residents coming back from “crimson listing” nations will quickly need to quarantine in government-provided lodging – equivalent to accommodations – for 10 days.
The federal government has not but revealed when the resort quarantine plan will come into power, with extra particulars on new border measures as a result of be set out subsequent week.
Dubai is a well-liked vacation spot for British holidaymakers searching for winter sunshine.
House Secretary Priti Patel used an announcement to the Home of Commons on Wednesday to bolster the federal government’s message that “folks ought to merely not be travelling” in the course of the present lockdown restrictions.
In criticism of social media “influencers” who’ve jetter overseas, Ms Patel instructed MPs: “Even at St Pancras, folks have been turning up with their skis – that’s clearly not acceptable.
“We see loads of influencers on social media exhibiting off about which components of the world they’re in, primarily in sunny components of the world.
“Occurring vacation just isn’t an exemption and folks should keep at house.”
