Holidays are BANNED and travellers arriving in the UK are ‘set ‘to be asked for a negative Covid test before being let in’
- Covid test must be taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival into the country
- Latest measure will reportedly be brought in as UK battles the new strain of virus
- It comes as the country is plunged into a third national ‘stay at home’ lockdown
Holidays have been banned and travellers arriving in the UK will have to present a negative Covid test before they are allowed to enter the country, it is understood.
The test must have been taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival as part of new measures to combat a new strain of the coronavirus.
According to the Times, only hauliers will be exempt from the latest condition of entry to the UK which is set to be brought in as the country was plunged into a third national lockdown since the pandemic began.
Currently, travellers arriving into the UK must complete a locator form with their contact details and may have to self-isolate if they have arrived from a country which is not included on the travel corridor list.
It comes as Matt Hancock yesterday revealed he is ‘incredibly worried’ about the highly-infectious South African coronavirus mutation which top experts fear could scupper Britain’s vaccine roll-out.
The Government has banned holidays as part of the latest coronavirus restrictions which will also see international arrivals asked to present a negative Covid-19 test to enter the country
The Health Secretary warned the variant — which has already been spotted in the UK — posed a ‘very, very significant problem’.
Under the latest national lockdown rules, holidays are banned as international travel is only permitted for a strict number of reasons such as for work.
UK residents currently abroad do not need to return home immediately. However, you should check with your airline or travel operator on arrangements for returning.
Two days before Christmas, Britain banned all arrivals from South Africa, as well as travel to the nation, after discovering two cases of the mutant Covid-19 strain which is driving a massive second wave among young people in the country.
In a televised address to the nation, Boris Johnson announced the new national lockdown to curb the spread of a mutated strain of the virus which is up to 70% more transmissible, and further studies are ongoing.
A government spokesman declined to comment on the latest travel restrictions.