Cyprus and the Baltic state of Lithuania have develop into the newest international locations added to the UK quarantine checklist.
The choice from the division of transports means travellers arriving into the UK from the 2 locations should isolate for 14-days from 04:00 on Sunday morning.
Knowledge from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Well being England has indicated a big change in each the extent and tempo of confirmed circumstances of Covid-19 in each locations.
The proof led ministers to take away the international locations from the present checklist of journey corridors, defined an announcement.
There was a constant improve in Covid-19 circumstances per 100,000 of the inhabitants in Cyprus over the past two weeks, with a 79 per cent improve in complete circumstances over this time interval.
In Lithuania, new circumstances per week have elevated by 47 per cent over the identical time interval.
On the similar time, the International Commonwealth & Growth Workplace (FCDO) has additionally up to date its journey recommendation to advise in opposition to all however important journey to Cyprus and Lithuania.
Penalties for these breaching the self-isolation guidelines when coming back from non-exempt international locations have elevated from £1,000 for first offences as much as £10,000 for subsequent offences, mirroring penalties for these breaching self-isolation following a constructive Covid-19 take a look at.
ABTA
Journey agent consultant ABTA mentioned the information spelled additional dangerous information for the sector.
A spokesperson mentioned: “The trade’s optimism from final week’s good news has been short-lived following the elimination of Cyprus from the journey hall checklist.
“Final minute modifications like this additional erode shopper confidence in abroad journey and function a stark reminder of the pressing must introduce testing to chop quarantine.
“We have to get folks travelling once more to help journey companies and save jobs.
“The federal government must urgently act on testing, introduce a regional journey hall method and carry the worldwide journey advisory in opposition to non-essential journey by shifting again to nation particular recommendation.
“In case you are as a result of journey to Cyprus imminently, we strongly advocate you converse to your journey firm to know your choices, which can embody seeing whether or not you’ll be able to change your reserving to a different vacation spot, like one of many Canary Islands, or postpone your reserving for a later date.“
