The UK Government has today confirmed that from 4am on Tuesday 30th November 2021, all arrivals to the UK, regardless of their vaccination status, will be required to take a Day Two PCR test, and they must isolate until results are received.
In a blow to the travel industry, as part of curbs to slow the spread of Omicron, a new variant of COVID-19, the Government has introduced PCR test requirements as well as re-introducing the travel red-list for a number of countries in South Africa where the variant was first detected.
A number of other countries including Switzerland and Israel have banned arrivals from the UK and Spain has made it a travel requirement that all tourists must have been fully-vaccinated by the time of their arrival, which means both jabs.
The full breakdown of changes are as follows:
- All international arrivals must take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
- All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. They will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
- Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from next week. All hospitality settings will be exempt.
The uk travel red list at present includes:
- South Africa
- Botswana
- Lesotho
- Eswatini
- Zimbabwe
- Namibia
From 4am on the 28th November, the following countries will join the red-list:
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Angola
If you are arriving from the above countries then you will be required before travel to:
- take a COVID-19 test – you must take the test in the 3 days before you travel to England
- book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests
- complete a passenger locator form
Children aged 11 to 17 must take a COVID-19 test in the 3 days before travel to England.
On arrival in England children aged 5 to 17 must quarantine in a managed hotel for 10 full days and take 2 COVID-19 tests.
Children aged 4 or under do not have to take any travel tests but must enter managed quarantine.
