LONDON: By next week, Britain’s government would require individuals entering England to present a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival to protect against new strains of the coronavirus from different nations, the government mentioned on Friday (Jan 8).
Passengers arriving by sea, airways, or railways route should take a test up to 72 hours earlier than departing for England, the transport ministry mentioned, mirroring measures taken by many different nations around the globe.
“We already have significant measures in place to stop imported cases of COVID-19, however with new strains of the virus developing internationally we should take further precautions,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned in a statement.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a new lockdown for England this week after a surge in cases linked to a new variant of the coronavirus believed to have originated within the nation.
On Thursday, Britain mentioned it might extend a ban on travelers entering England from South Africa to different southern African nations to stop the spread of a variant identified in South Africa.
Exemptions to the new testing requirement rule can be provided to haulers, youngsters under 11, crews, and people traveling from nations where tests are not available, the government mentioned, Passengers will be subject to a fine of £500 (US$678.30) if they fail to comply with the new rules.
Britain’s airline industry mentioned it recognized the need to act to introduce pre-departure testing however only as a short-term, emergency measure.
Britain requires passengers from many nations to self-isolate for 10 days, or 5 if they pay for a private test and test negative. These necessities will remain in place after the new pre-departure testing rule comes into effect.
The new rule wouldn’t apply to the Common Travel Area which includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
