The United Kingdom has extended the ban on travellers entering England to 11 African countries to prevent the spread of a new COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa.
This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Travel restrictions update: South Africa ban extended, Israel (and Jerusalem)’ on the UK’s government website.
It stated that the restriction would take effect on Saturday and remain in place for two weeks.
The UK had on December 23, 2020, imposed a travel ban on South Africa.
Part of the statement read, “Entry into England will be banned to those who have travelled from or through any southern African country in the last ten days, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola – as well as Seychelles and Mauritius.
“This does not include British and Irish Nationals, longer-term visa holders and permanent residents, who will be able to enter but are required to self-isolate for ten days on arrival along with their household.
“The government has also removed Botswana, Seychelles and Mauritius from the travel corridor list, with the changes coming into place from 4 am on Saturday, January 9 2021.
“Any exemptions usually in place – including for those related to employment – will not apply and those British nationals arriving into England from the other southern African countries, Seychelles and Mauritius after 4 am on Saturday, January 9 cannot be released from self-isolation. People sharing a household with anyone self-isolating from these countries will also have to self-isolate for ten days.
“Ministers have also removed Israel (and Jerusalem) from the government’s travel corridor list, as data from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England has indicated a significant change in both the level and pace of confirmed cases of coronavirus. The decision to remove Israel (and Jerusalem) has been made following a sustained and accelerating increase in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 of the population, similar in trajectory to the UK.”
