The UK government has added India to its ‘red list’ of countries at high risk of importing Covid-19 variants of concern.
Speaking in the Commons, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government had made the “difficult decision” to add India to the list.
It means that from 0400 on Friday April 23, travel to England from India will be largely banned.
British, Irish and third-country nationals with residence rights (including long-term visa holders) will still be permitted to enter the country, but will be required to quarantine for ten days in a government-approved hotel.
The UK government is in the process of examining an Indian variant of Covid-19 to determine whether it should be considered a “variant of concern”.
The move follows the addition of the Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh to the red list earlier this month.
Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh added to UK government’s ‘red list’
Nearly 40 countries have been added to the red list since it was set up earlier this year to protect the UK from imported cases of the so-called Brazilian and South African variants of Covid-19. A full list of these destinations can be seen below.
England’s Covid-19 red list travel ban countries
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ecuador
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- India (will be added to the list at 0400 on Friday April 23)
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe