UK PM Boris Johnson announced today that UK citizens and permanent residents returning from 30 "high-risk" countries where more-transmissible COVID-19 variants are known to be present will be picked up at the airport by UK authorities and transported directly to government-arranged hotel accommodations where they must remain at their own expense for a 10-day quarantine period.
That will be an expensive stay, particularly in London.
The 30 high-risk countries are:
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Ecuador
- Eswatini
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Furthermore, since leisure travel abroad is currently unlawful for UK residents, returning travelers will be "questioned" by authorities as to their reason for travel.
Also, persons wishing to travel out of the UK will first have to make a declaration proving that their journey is essential. And authorities will be present at UK ports and airports for the purpose of questioning any would-be outbound travelers who show up as to their purpose for traveling. Those without a valid reason will be turned back.
And all travelers entering the UK, from anywhere, must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival.
