UK Updated Red List: UK Bans African Countries

The UK moved to impose travel restrictions on a group of African nations as a surge in cases of a heavily mutated coronavirus variant caused alarm among global health officials.

These countries will be added to England’s travel “red list”.

Travellers returning from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Eswatini will be forced to quarantine for 10 days at a government facility from midday on 26 November, UK officials said.

Direct flights from the six countries would be banned until hotel quarantine is up and running from 4 AM on Sunday, 28 November.

As part of our close surveillance of variants across the world, we have become aware of the spread of a new potentially concerning variant.
We are taking precautionary action to protect public health and the progress of our vaccine rollout at a critical moment as we enter winter, and we are monitoring the situation closely.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid

South Africa and other countries in the region only came off the UK’s red list in October.

New COVID Variant of Concern

UK scientists sounded the alarm on Thursday night over the B.1.1.529 variant, which has the potential to evade immunity built up by vaccination or prior infection.

While no cases have been found in Britain, officials raised concern over a rapid rise in cases in South Africa.

A UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) expert said: “This is the worst variant we have seen so far.”

Only 59 confirmed cases have been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong, and Botswana.

The variant has over 30 mutations – around twice as many as the Delta variant – which could potentially make it more transmissible and evade the protection given by prior infection or vaccination.

Passengers booked to return to the UK from the red list will face hotel quarantine when they return at a cost of over £2,000.

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