Covid-19 cases in the UK are on the rise since December 2020. The nation dealing with the new strain of the covid-19 virus is updating its travel rules for other countries quite frequently. And now as per the latest update, the British government has banned travel between the UK and UAE. Prime Minister of UK Boris Johnson, has announced a ban on non-essential travel to and from Britain till at least May 17, 2021. The PM has also said that the authorities won’t allow domestic overnight stays and self-contained accommodation before April 12.
Non-British Travellers Won’t Be Allowed In The UK From Today, January 29
As per the latest update, all non-British travellers from the UAE won’t be allowed to enter the UK from today 1 PM. Travellers with British or Irish passport can enter the nation, but people who arrive after 4 AM on Friday will have to isolate at home for 10-days. The returning residents will not be forced to use hotel quarantine, but they won’t be eligible to use the “Test to Release” scheme, which lets people in England to stop self-isolating with a negative test after day five.
From tomorrow (Friday 29 Jan at 1pm), we’re extending our travel ban with the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda all added to the UK's red list. 1/3
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps (@grantshapps) January 28, 2021
The new update has come into play after the new South African strain was found in visitors from the UAE. The new South African variant is more deadly and contagious variant of the Covid virus and has spread to countries like the US. Hence, the UK is doing everything it can to stop the mutation of the new strain.
The Ban Is In Place To Curb The Spread Of The South African Variant Of The Virus
The ban, was announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Twitter. The embassy has also advised British Nationals in the UAE to use indirect flights if they are planning to return to the UK.
“British passengers will have to provide a proof of a negative test and completed passenger locator form before arrival, or could face a £500 fine for each,” Mr Shapps said.
This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at HOME. 2/3
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps (@grantshapps) January 28, 2021
Speaking about the travel ban, the Department of Transport said,
“The decision to ban travel from these destinations follows the discovery of a new coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, which may have spread to other countries, including the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda.”
This Ban Will Affect More Than 240,000 British Nationals Residing In The UAE
When it comes to UAE, more than 240,000 British nationals reside in the nation and this ban will affect the travel plans of many nationals, who are hoping to fly from or via the UAE.
We hope that in 2021, we put the covid-19 pandemic behind us.