UK reintroduces compulsory PCR tests for arrivals – must isolate until results arrive
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Boris Johnson has announced new measures for anyone returning to the UK from a trip to any destination.
Everyone arriving in the UK will need to take a PCR test within two days of their return.
It is not clear when this will come into effect, as it presumably requires the publication of a Statutory Instrument which will appear here. Monday is probably the best bet. Whilst technically the announcement only applied to England, Scotland and Wales have already confirmed that they will follow suit.
EDIT: As this later article explains, it comes into effect at 4am on Tuesday.
In a major change from how the policy worked during the Summer, it will be compulsory to self-isolate until the result is known.
There will also be a return to mask wearing in shops and on public transport, although not in hospitality venues. This is effective from next week.
Anyone who has been in contact with anyone diagnosed with the new Omicron covid variant will have to self-isolate for 10 days irrespective of their vaccination status.
These rules will be introduced for a temporary period of three weeks and will be reviewed at that point.
In a separate announcement earlier on Saturday, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia were added to the ‘Red List’ of countries which will require hotel quarantine for anyone who has visited them within 10 days of returning to the UK. South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini were placed on the list on Friday.
We will update this article as more details emerge. The official Government press release is here.
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