UK: Authorities to suspend all travel corridors and require all international arrivals to self-isolate upon entry from 0400 Jan. 18 /update 19

Event

As part of ongoing efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), health officials in the UK will tighten international entry restrictions from 0400 Jan. 18 due to increasing rates of the newly discovered variant strain. Travel corridors will be suspended and all arrivals will have to self-isolate for up to 10 days upon entry; travelers can reduce the required self-isolation period by taking a COVID-19 test five days after arrival at their own expense. Such individuals may be released from self-isolation upon receipt of a negative result. Health officials may perform spot checks to ensure compliance. Persons without suitable accommodations are required to stay in facilities arranged by the government at their own expense. All international travelers entering the UK must also fill out a passenger locator form providing contact details and their travel history over the previous 10 days. This measure will be in addition to the previously implemented orders requiring all international travelers to England, Scotland, and Wales to present proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 before boarding starting 0400 Jan. 18.

Any persons arriving without such proof may be fined or denied entry. All international arrivals from outside of the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands must be tested no more than 72 hours before departing their country of origin. Exemptions are in place for children under the age of 11, international rail and maritime crew, and certain other categories of travelers. Persons arriving from the overseas territories of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the Falkland Islands are exempt; the requirement will not enter into force until 0400 Jan. 21 for those traveling from Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, and Barbados. The government has issued online guidance on test criteria as well as details of certain traveler categories that are exempt. Northern Ireland will likely announce similar restrictions in due course.

Authorities in the UK previously banned international arrivals from Portugal, as well Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela starting 0400 Jan. 15 due to the spread of the new strain of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in those countries. Freight transporters arriving from Portugal are exempt from this measure; citizens and permanent residents of the UK and Ireland will be allowed entry into the UK but must self-isolate for 10 days upon their arrival.

Flights with South Africa remain suspended until Jan. 23 due to the rapid spread of the new strain of COVID-19 in that country. Officials have also expanded the ban to include several southern African nations having strong travel links with South Africa, namely Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Seychelles, and Mauritius. Nonresident foreign nationals will not be permitted entry into the UK if they arrive from, have been in, or have transited South Africa or one of the aforementioned southern African nations within the past 10 days. Exceptions will are in place for British and Irish nationals, visa holders, and permanent residents, who may enter but must self-isolate for 10 days on arrival, along with the rest of their household.

Senior executives, or individuals with senior managerial responsibility in a business organization, are exempt from quarantine requirements. The executives, whether visiting or returning, must be engaged in specific business activities that deliver a significant benefit to the UK economy, including those that create or preserve 50 or more jobs in the UK or purchase goods or services for at least GBP 100 million (USD 134 million) from a UK-based business with at least 50 employees. Additionally, aerospace engineers, data infrastructure maintenance personnel, elite athletes, journalists, IT workers, and seasonal agricultural workers will no longer need to self-isolate upon entering the country.

Officials review these measures weekly or in response to significant changes in disease activity abroad. Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Arrive at the airport early to prevent your seat from being reallocated to a standby passenger. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.