The UK government have now announced that all of the country’s travel corridors will close from Monday (January 18) – meaning everyone arriving in the UK will have to self-isolate.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new measures at a coronavirus briefing at Downing Street this afternoon (January 15).
Mr Johnson also announced that everyone entering the UK will need proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of departure.
The Prime Minister added that these tighter border restrictions are to “protect against the risk of as yet unidentified new Covid strains”, following reports of a new variant identified in Brazil.
Speaking at the news briefing, Mr Johnson said: “It’s precisely because we have the hope of that vaccine and the risk of new strains coming from overseas that we must take additional steps now to stop those strains from entering the country.
“Yesterday we announced that we’re banning flights from South America and Portugal and to protect us against the risk from as-yet-unidentified strains we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 4am on Monday.
“Following conversations with the devolved administrations we will act together so this applies across the whole of the UK.”