UK shuts down all international transit points from January 18 after mutated variants of Covid-19 emerge in co

16-01-2021

Amid a rampant surge in coronavirus cases after two new mutated strains were discovered in their country itself, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday (local time) declared that the country will be temporarily shutting down all travel corridors starting 4 am (local time) on Monday. The development comes a day after the Brazil variant of the new Covid-19 virus was detected in the United Kingdom. The UK is currently under an indefinite national lockdown in order to curb the spread of the new variants, with non-essential shops, gyms and other services closed, and most people working from home and schools largely offering remote learning. The only way to get into Britain is by having a negative coronavirus test result and mandatory quarantine for 10 days, news broadcaster CNN quoted Johnson as saying. �This means that if you come to this country, you must have proof of a negative Covid test that you've taken in the 72 hours before leaving. And you must have filled in your passenger locator form, and your airline will ask for proof of both before you take off,� the UK Prime Minister said. Johnson further stated that those failing to comply with the rules will be fined. �You may also be checked when you land and face substantial fines for refusing to comply, and upon arrival, you must then quarantine for 10 days, not leaving your home for any reason at all. Or take another test on day five and wait for proof of another negative result and we will be stepping up our enforcement, both at the border and in the country,� he said. The UK Department of Transport states that international travel corridors have been put in place since July 2020 for countries where risks of Covid-19 infection can be mitigated, news agency reported. The new travel restrictions will be reviewed on February 15, the Department claimed.