All travellers to England and Scotland from overseas will need to test negative for coronavirus before they are allowed to enter the country, the government has announced.
The test will need to be taken up to 72 hours before their departure , and failure to comply will result in an immediate £500 fine.
Transport Secretary Grant Schapps told Sky News that:
“If you are coming here from anywhere, whether you are a Briton or whether you’re a foreign national then you will need to take a covid test up to 72 hours before you come here.”
He described the move as an “extra check” to ramp up the “security” of the country’s borders following the discovery of new variants around the world and cited the “South African mutation” in particular for the “much more urgent” need for testing, showing concerns it could impact the roll-out of the new coronavirus vaccine.
“There are concerns with the south African variant in particular about how effective the vaccine would be against it so we simply can not take chances,”
There will be a limited number of exemptions, including hauliers, children under 11, crews, arrivals from the Common Travel Area with Ireland and for those travelling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver tests.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds tweeted:
“The Government decision to introduce mandatory testing before UK entry has been too slow given the risk of Covid-19 variants entering the country, including the strain that emerged in South Africa.Too often, Ministers have gone from one crisis to another, lacking strategy & grip.”
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said:
“If we want to instil confidence in travellers and gradually encourage international visits then common international standards for pre-departure testing around the world are vital. It is encouraging to see the Government addressing the issue and looking to restore confidence among the public.
“In due course, as travel resumes, restrictions are lifted and travellers’ confidence is restored, this pre-departure testing must replace quarantine. This can boost confidence as well as ensuring that safety remains a priority.
“Sections of the hospitality sector draw a substantial amount of their business from international visitors, be they tourists or business travellers. Getting these visits back up and running safely and smoothly will be key to securing the future of the hospitality sector and therefore the whole economy.”
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