Transport Sec Bans Arrivals From S. America, Portugal Over Brazilian Variant

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweets: "I've taken the urgent decision to BAN ARRIVALS from ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, BOLIVIA, CAPE VERDE, CHILE, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, FRENCH GUIANA, GUYANA, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PERU, SURINAME, URUGUAY AND VENEZUELA – from TOMORROW, 15 JAN at 4AM following evidence of a new variant in Brazil. Travel from PORTUGAL to the UK will also be suspended given its strong travel links with Brazil – acting as another way to reduce the risk of importing infections."

• Comes after a similar ban placed on arrivals from South Africa and its surrounding countries over a variant of COVID-19 proliferating in the country.
• The UK continues to record large numbers of new daily cases, hospitalisations, and deaths related to COVID-19. However, it has one of the highest rates of vaccination per 100 population (and the highest of any large country worldwide), meaning that should the vaccination programme continue to accelerate we could see more bans on travel into the UK being implemented in the weeks and months ahead.