You are currently viewing Gatwick Airport: Strict PCR test rules introduced in UK after Omicron COVID variant outbreak, Full updated red travel list as South Africa and nine more countries added

Gatwick Airport: Strict PCR test rules introduced in UK after Omicron COVID variant outbreak, Full updated red travel list as South Africa and nine more countries added

Boris Johnson announced a range of “temporary” measures to halt the spread of the new Omicron COVID variant.

Boris Johnson has announced that everyone arriving in the UK will have to take a PCR test and self-isolate until they can provide a negative test.

The Prime Minister announced a range of “temporary” measures to halt the spread of the new Omicron COVID variant.

Four more countries have been added to the UK’s red list after three cases of the Omicron corona variant were detected in the UK.

Following fresh advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia were added to the dreaded red list from 4am on Friday (November 28).

This means travellers who have returned from these four countries in the last ten days must isolate and get a PCR test.

But are there any other countries on the red list and what are the rules if you’re returning from one of these destinations?

To help make sure you don’t get caught out, we’ve done some digging into the latest travel changes.

Which countries are on the red list?

  • Angola (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Botswana (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Eswatini (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Lesotho (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Malawi (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Mozambique (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Namibia (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • South Africa (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Zambia (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Zimbabwe (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))

What are the rules for travelling from a red list country to the UK?

Anyone arriving in the UK from a red list country must quarantine in a managed hotel.

This will cost an eye-watering £2,285 for one adult to stay in the hotel for 11 nights.

Holidaymakers must also take a coronavirus test on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantining.

This must be done even if you’re fully vaccinated.

If you break the quarantine rules you may be slapped with a fine of up to £10,000.

What about if I’m not travelling from a red list country?

Anyone arriving in the UK will be asked to take a PCR test on or before the second day and must self-isolate until they provide a negative test in a bid to combat the Omicron Covid variant.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the move at a press conference on Saturday (November 27) after two confirmed cases of the “worst ever strain” were discovered in Brentwood, Essex, and Nottingham.

A third case was later detected and the person had visited Westminster in London, but they are no longer in the UK

Mr Johnson also revealed that anyone with a suspected case of Omicron will have to isolate for 10 days – regardless of their vaccination status.

He said: “We’re not going to stop people travelling, I want to stress that, we’re not going to stop people travelling, but we will require anyone who enters the UK to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and to self-isolate until they have a negative result.

“Second, we need to slow down the spread of this variant here in the UK, because measures at the border can only ever minimise and delay the arrival of a new variant rather than stop it all together.”

Boris Johnson also tightened up the rules on face coverings, stressing they will have to be worn in shops and on public transport from tomorrow (November 30).

To help make sure you don’t get caught out, we’ve done some digging into the latest travel changes.

Which countries are on the red list?

  • Angola (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Botswana (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Eswatini (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Lesotho (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Malawi (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Mozambique (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Namibia (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • South Africa (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))
  • Zambia (added to the red list at 4am Sunday (November 28))
  • Zimbabwe (added to the red list at 12pm Friday (November 26))

What are the rules for travelling from a red list country to the UK?

Anyone arriving in the UK from a red list country must quarantine in a managed hotel.

This will cost an eye-watering £2,285 for one adult to stay in the hotel for 11 nights.

Holidaymakers must also take a coronavirus test on or before day two and on or after day eight of quarantining.

This must be done even if you’re fully vaccinated.

If you break the quarantine rules you may be slapped with a fine of up to £10,000.

He said: “We’re not going to stop people travelling, I want to stress that, we’re not going to stop people travelling, but we will require anyone who enters the UK to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and to self-isolate until they have a negative result.

“Second, we need to slow down the spread of this variant here in the UK, because measures at the border can only ever minimise and delay the arrival of a new variant rather than stop it all together.”

Boris Johnson also tightened up the rules on face coverings, stressing they will have to be worn in shops and on public transport from tomorrow (November 30).