BREAKING: UK Places Travel Ban On 11 African Countries Alongside Israel (Full List)

In an effort to avert further spread of COVID19 variant, the United Kingdom (Travel Ban) has added 11 African countries to its list of restricted countries from entering England.

Brandnewsday reports that the United Kingdom has extended the ban on travellers entering England to 11 African countries in a bid to prevent the spread of a new COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa.

Recall that the UK had on December 23, 2020, imposed a travel ban on Israel and South Africa.

This online news platform understands that the UK Travel Ban awareness was made available through a press statement titled, ‘Travel restrictions update: South Africa ban extended, Israel (and Jerusalem)’ on the UK’s government website.

Meanwhile, the statement stated that the restriction will take effect on Saturday and remain in place for two weeks.

UK Travel Ban: African countries

The African countries including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola – as well as Seychelles and Mauritius.

UK Places Travel Ban On 11 African Countries

The statement reads in part: “Entry into England will be banned to those who have travelled from or through any southern African country in the last 10 days, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola – as well as Seychelles and Mauritius.

“This does not include British and Irish Nationals, longer-term visa holders and permanent residents, who will be able to enter but are required to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival along with their household.

“The government has therefore also removed Botswana, Seychelles and Mauritius from the travel corridor list, with the changes coming into place from 4 am on Saturday 9 January 2021.”

It further reads: “Any exemptions usually in place – including for those related to employment – will not apply and those British nationals arriving into England from the other southern African countries, Seychelles and Mauritius after 4am on Saturday 9 January cannot be released from self-isolation through Test to Release. People sharing a household with anyone self-isolating from these countries will also have to self-isolate for 10 days.

“Ministers have also removed Israel (and Jerusalem) from the government’s travel corridor list, as data from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England has indicated a significant change in both the level and pace of confirmed cases of coronavirus. The decision to remove Israel (and Jerusalem) has been made following a sustained and accelerating increase in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 of the population, similar in trajectory to the UK.”