United Kingdom will suspend all travel corridors from 4 am on Monday (18th January,2021).
This decision was announced by United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday evening. It comes days after the country announced that all international arrivals would require a negative COVID-19 test result from 4 am on Monday (18th January,2021).
The country first implemented a quarantine for all incoming travellers regardless of their point of origin. Gradually, low-risk countries were placed on a travel corridor list, meaning that quarantine would not apply. However, many countries have been removed from the list as case numbers continue to rise. Just a couple of days ago, the UK government banned travel from several South American countries and Portugal.
“Travel Corridors assess public health risk from the original SARS-COV-2, but it’s impossible for the Joint Biosecurity Centre to provide live scientific updates to predict which countries or regions will now originate new variants. Travel Corridors are therefore suspended for now.”
commented Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, on the suspension.
What do these changes mean for travellers to the UK?
The changes mean that with a list of exceptions, anybody currently permitted to travel to the UK will be subject to restrictions.
From 4 am on Monday (18th January,2021), travellers to the UK would be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken not more than 72 hours before departure.
With the removal of travel corridors, those not exempted from quarantine will have to do so for ten days. It is possible to reduce quarantine to 5 days with the government’s Test-to-Release scheme.
In further comments on the new rules, Shapps mentioned that the government would be increasing enforcement checks on those entering the country from abroad to ensure that they’re following the rules.
Additionally, he mentioned that there would be fewer exemptions to quarantining. Shapps said that the move would help slow the spread of new variants while millions are being vaccinated.
For more information regarding travel to the UK, click here.
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