Britain is tightening border controls to block new variants of COVID-19, suspending all “travel corridor” arrangements that had meant arrivals from some countries did not require quarantine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is grappling to control a third wave of the virus and prevent the health service from collapse while also racing to vaccinate millions each week, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“What we don’t want to see is all that hard work undone by the arrival of a new variant that is vaccine-busting,” he told a news conference, explaining the end of travel corridors at least until Feb. 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rule changes come into force at 0400 GMT on Monday and mean all passengers must have a recent negative coronavirus test and transfer immediately into isolation upon arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isolation lasts for 10 days, unless the passenger tests negative after five. On Thursday, Britain banned arrivals from South America, Portugal and some other countries over fears about a variant detected in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Britain’s current lockdowns ban most international travel meaning that airline schedules are currently minimal, but the withdrawal of any quarantine-free travel will be a further blow for an industry already on its knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UK-based airline easyJet said there was no immediate impact from Johnson’s announcement, but in a statement added: “We need to ensure that travel corridors are put back in place when it is safe to do so.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Britain has already felt the effects of mutations in the virus, after a variant first discovered in England has proved to be more transmissible. Critics say the government has been too slow to act and previously left borders wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much of the criticism prior to Friday’s announcement has focused on whether rules requiring arriving passengers to quarantine are actually being enforced, with anecdotal evidence that few checks are made.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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