The Prime Minister announced last week that the government had made a tough but necessary decision to introduce a new UK lockdown as there is a significant rise in coronavirus levels, including the new strains, both globally and domestically.
After UK’s latest travel restrictions update,
the UK has removed the United Arab Emirates from their travel corridor list. This means that any travellers coming in from Dubai must self-isolate.
The announcement was made following a spike in Covid-19 cases across the UAE, with over a 50 per cent increase recorded by UK officials.
Any travellers arriving into the UK from the UAE after 4 am GMT from the 12th of January must self-isolate for ten days.
The Foreign Office also advises against all but essential travel to the entire United Arab Emirates.
The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “The LATEST data indicates we need to immediately remove the #UAE from the #TRAVELCORRIDOR list. “From 0400 Tuesday, January 12th anyone arriving from the UAE will need to SELF-ISOLATE.” In a tweet, later on, Mr Shapps added: “REMINDER: Current NATIONAL RESTRICTIONS do not permit international travel other than for specific reasons. “Ignoring the rules costs lives. Inconsiderate and selfish behaviour puts others at risk & is unfair to those following the rules to beat the virus. Stay at home. Save lives.”
The removal of the UAE from the UK travel corridor list comes as the UK travel restrictions updates have changed for all travellers arriving in England, including travellers from any other country.
The Department for Transport has stated that there will be a mandatory pre-departure Covid-19 testing for all travellers arriving in the country which will come into play at 4 am on Friday the 15th of January.
Likewise, the passengers arriving by ship, plane or train will have to produce confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test up to three days before departure to the relevant officials.
However, any new arrivals will still have to quarantine for ten days despite their test results, stated Mr Robert Courts, UK’s transport minister.
British nationals who test positive and yet trying to return home must not travel and should follow the local travel guidelines on self-isolation in their host country.
Those who attempt to travel without a pre-departure negative test result will be fined a minimum of £500. At the same time, there will be a fine for the operators transporting non-compliant passengers.
