The UK Government has banned international arrivals from the whole of South America, as well as Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde, over concerns about the spread of a new variant of Covid-19.
The new restrictions will come into effect at 4am on Friday morning, giving returning travellers just 12 hours to find their way home.
The Brazilian variant was first announced last Monday after Japanese health officials identified four air passengers arriving in Tokyo from Brazil’s Amazonas state as carriers.
While scientists are still uncertain whether it is any more transmissible than other variants of coronavirus, or if it will prove to be more resistant to new vaccines, Boris Johnson appeared to confirm yesterday that a flight ban would be enforced, telling a parliamentary cross-party committee: “We’re putting in extra measures to ensure that people coming from Brazil are checked: and indeed stopping people coming from Brazil.”
The Brazilian authorities have already banned flights from the UK, announcing their decision last month after a separate mutation of Covid-19 was discovered in southeast England. This means there are currently no direct flights from Brazil to the UK, although travellers are still able to make the journey by transiting through other countries.
05:35 PM
What happened today?
A recap of today's top stories:
New test for arrival rules pushed back till Monday
British skiers turned away from French border
'Vaccine-confidence' fuels holiday boom among the over-50s
Airport temperature scanners 'not reliable' at detecting Covid, say scientists
Norwegian axes long-haul flights
Jet2 adds 700 extra flights for summer 2021
Join us tomorrow, for more live updates from the world of travel.
05:00 PM
A look at Covid-19 cases in Brazil
04:48 PM
Brazilian Covid variant may infect people who have recovered from virus
The Brazilian coronavirus variant may infect people who have already recovered from Covid, scientists said as they called for urgent investigations into whether the new mutation can escape previous immunity.
Research published last year suggested that 76 per cent of people in Manaus had contracted coronavirus by October, which should have severely limited onward spread of the virus. However, the city saw an unexpected surge of new cases last month and has now declared a state of emergency, with hospitals reaching 100 per cent capacity.
Do you think it is acceptable for a government department such as @transportgovuk to be announcing major #UK border control changes via @Twitter at 11pm at night?
Comment at the bottom of this article page to have your say.
04:36 PM
"It is vital this travel ban is reviewed on an ongoing basis"
Danny Callaghan, CEO of the Latin American Travel Association (LATA), has said the following on the new Covid-19 variant in Brazil and the associated travel bans
"At LATA, we appreciate that this a rapidly evolving scenario and understand the government’s decision to impose a temporary ban whilst the situation is being assessed. That said, it is vital that this travel ban is reviewed on an ongoing basis subject to the epidemiological situation and the associated risks and not just forgotten about or kicked down the road endlessly."
04:28 PM
‘We do not blame the British’ – Swiss locals react as Covid outbreak cancels annual ski race
Watching safety netting being pulled from a ski race course, which was so immaculately prepared by the Swiss army and local volunteers only 24 hours previously, is a depressing sight, writes Alex Moore.
Ahead of the busiest and most popular weekend of the ski season in the Swiss mountain resort of Wengen, the resort has been left looking more like a ghost town as the result of a cluster of Covid-19 cases to have reached the car-free village.
The cases were detected thanks to the foresight of the Lauberhorn Race Committee along with the local doctor, who took the decision on December 12 to erect a “rapid” Covid testing facility in the village centre on January 4, specifically in preparation for the World Cup downhill race, due to take place this coming weekend.
Swiss army troops have been brought in to help in Wengen, where the Lauberhorn race has been cancelled - Shutterstock
According to the Canton Bern website on January 11 there were 60 cases in Wengen confirmed over a four week period. Consequently the authorities have had no other choice but to cancel the races. It's devastating for those of us who look forward to this weekend the entire winter and the businesses that rely on its popularity.
Unlike some other race circuit resorts who have pressed on with scheduled competitions, Wengen thought it responsible to take such decisive action, despite it meaning the cancellation of their biggest event of the year.
With the cut-off for travel from South America set for 4am tomorrow morning, travellers hoping to return to the UK are left with just 12 hours to do so.
03:56 PM
BREAKING: Travel bans for South America and Portugal
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. 1/3
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. However, there is an exemption for hauliers travelling from Portugal (only), to allow transport of essential goods.
This measure does not apply to British and Irish Nationals and third country nationals with residence rights – but passengers returning from these destinations must self-isolate for TEN DAYS along with their households 🏠 3/3
Spain extends UK travel ban over mutant coronavirus variant
Britons will continue to be barred from entering Spain for another two weeks due to continuing concerns over the UK coronavirus variant.
The Spanish government has extended its ban on UK arrivals until February 2, when the decision will be reviewed once again.
The tough restrictions were first announced in late December after a mutant variant of Covid-19 was detected in parts of southeast England, with many other European countries also choosing to close their borders.
03:43 PM
WTTC welcomes Government decision on test variety
The World Travel and Tourism Council has greeted the news that the UK government will accept a wide variety of Covid-19 tests for its 'test to arrive' scheme, claiming the announcement "opens the doors to travellers."
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said:
Giving equal validity to every Covid-19 test takes away the concern travellers may have that their test may not be accepted and thus face the prospect of being forced into an unnecessary quarantine.
It also means tests of every type will be more affordable and accessible for travellers seeking to enter the UK safely, with proof of a negative test, and further reduce the risk of exporting the virus.
This action compliments similar action taken in the US - and many other countries around the world - which have introduced an ‘open door’ policy to get safe travel moving with acceptable pre-boarding COVID-19 negative tests, such as PCR and rapid antigen tests.
What sort of test do you need?
The Government says the test must:
Meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml
This could include tests such as: a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests and antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device
03:34 PM
North American borders to remain closed for another month
The USA's borders with Canada and Mexico will be kept shut for another month as the pandemic continues apace across North America.
All non-essential travel between the three countries has been suspended since the beginning of March, with extensions announced every month since.
It comes just days after the US recorded its highest Covid-19 daily death toll to date, with 4,327 people having lost their lives to the virus on Tuesday alone.
Coronavirus USA Spotlight Chart - cases default
03:23 PM
'World's largest human gathering' takes place on banks of the Ganges
More than a million Hindus have gathered in northern India for the religious festival of Kumbh Mela, despite fears over the spread of coronavirus.
The celebration on the banks of the Ganges typically sees some of the largest human gatherings in the world – it is estimated that more than 60 million people attended in 2001. By comparison, this year's festivities are fairly deserted.
kumbh mela festival, india - Getty
kumbh mela festival, india - Getty
kumbh mela festival, india - Getty
03:12 PM
Travel association calls for vaccine passports
Noel Josephides, director of the travel association AITO, has expressed frustration at the Government’s refusal to consult tourism businesses over the UK’s ever-changing travel policy – and called for the introduction of vaccine passports.
He said:
If the Government would deign to speak to travel experts such as AITO and ABTA before launching any new initiatives affecting the travel industry, to understand our take on them and how they will affect our member companies, that would definitely be helpful. To date, they have singularly failed to do this despite our many requests.
An acceptance is needed that travel and holidays are not frivolous; they support our mental health and wellbeing and they also support many tourism-dependent destinations overseas. They are a force for good, for understanding between nations, and they also support a huge number of jobs in the UK and overseas.
To enable travel to restart, Josephides suggested several key steps, including the introduction of vaccination passports “for the reassurance of host destinations”, a campaign to “encourage everyone who travels to take out comprehensive insurance with full Covid cover” and efforts to “work with key host destinations to ensure acceptance of visitors from Britain subject to the correct paperwork.”
03:06 PM
More funding for Scottish and Welsh tourism businesses
The devolved governments of Scotland and Wales have each pledged additional financial support to struggling travel firms affected by lockdown.
Under the Scottish lockdown system, all travel businesses under Level 4 – the highest level of restrictions – will receive additional grant funding, while those in Level 3 areas will be eligible for one-off grants.
The Welsh government has rolled out a renewed fund designed to support tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses in levels 3 and 4.
02:58 PM
Mapped: Coronavirus cases around the world
The world has now surpassed 92 million cases of coronavirus, but vaccination rollouts are giving hope for holidays to resume later this year.
The UK and USA are among the worst affected for Covid cases per million, but are also leading the way in inoculation, with 4.5 doses administered per 100 people in the former, and 3.1 in the latter (you can see this by switching tabs on the map below).
Israel and the UAE are the other frontrunners in the vaccine race.
Coronavirus live map cases tracker
02:48 PM
Should you book a holiday for spring?
The travel industry has been gripped by a bookings boom in recent days, with over-50s leading the charge for holidays in the spring and summer.
But with the UK still in lockdown, and with countries around the world tightening their border controls as new coronavirus variants emerge, is it really wise to book a holiday right now? What should you do if your trip is cancelled? And will travel ever return to the way it was?
Emirates expects full jumbo jet fleet to be back in the air by end of year
The president of Emirates has predicted that the airline's entire fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s will be back in operation by the end of 2021, as vaccine rollouts renew confidence among travellers.
Tim Clark, who heads up the UAE-based carrier, and who delayed his retirement in order to guide it through the pandemic, expressed his belief that rising infection rates and renewed travel restrictions are a "bumpy patch" on the road to recovery.
"Once the pandemic is over and the global inoculation program has kicked in at pace, then I see the restoration and a recapture of activity curves in all aspects of the global economy at pace, probably in the middle to back end of this year," he told Reuters.
02:29 PM
The rise and fall of Norwegian Air, leader of the low-cost transatlantic revolution
Norwegian Air has announced the end of its long-haul operation, a move which will axe around 1,100 jobs in the UK alone – and bring an end to one of commercial aviation's most ambitious grand-plans, writes Hazel Plush.
Like all airlines, the Oslo-based carrier has been hit hard by the pandemic, forced to ground most of its fleet throughout 2020 – its long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets entirely unused since March. Now, it seems, the writing on the wall can be ignored no longer.
It has done well, perhaps, to make it this far. Even pre-pandemic, the airline's long-haul offering was suffering financial turbulence – despite it seemingly flying high. But this ruinous 12 months has unravelled even the most robust business models; and low-cost carriers have borne the brunt.
Saga reports rising interest in holidays among over 50s
It seems the arrival of a vaccine is giving many older travellers the confidence to start planning their next holiday. A 78% increase in traffic has been reported to Saga’s Traveller’s World website pages and a 36% increase for its Traveller’s World online brochures compared to the period before the successful vaccine trials.
The most visited webpages in recent weeks include trips on the Trans-Siberian Railway, tours across India’s Golden Triangle, and voyages across New Zealand.
Chris Simmonds, Managing Director of Saga Holidays, which specialises in holidays for over 50s, said: “We know just how much our guests have missed going on holiday this year. As our recent web traffic shows, it seems many have spent this time daydreaming about the exciting adventures that they want to go on as soon as they are able to do so.”
02:10 PM
Emirates suspends flights to South Africa
Dubai-based airline Emirates said on Thursday it would temporarily suspend all flights to and from South Africa from Saturday due to operational reasons, without elaborating.
"Emirates flights to/from South Africa will temporarily be suspended from Saturday 16 January to 28 January 2021 due to operational reasons," the largest carrier in the United Arab Emirates said in a statement.
Inbound travel to South Africa for leisure and business has dropped since mid December when the country identified a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus, forcing countries such as England, Germany, Switzerland and several in Asia to cancel flights to and from the country.
The new variant is said to be behind a major spike in daily infections and rising deaths for the last month, with total cases currently standing at close to 1.3 million and over 35,000 deaths.
01:55 PM
Comment: This absurd exercise shaming needs to stop
Simon Parker writes: "When this is over, and 65 million Gollums emerge, how many will be clinically depressed and saddled with an extra disease or two?"
We shouldn't be demonised for enjoying the outdoors - Getty
01:46 PM
Decision on holding delayed Tokyo Olympic Games 'could go either way'
The once-delayed Tokyo Olympics may not go ahead this summer as planned as the Covid-19 pandemic rages, a Japanese cabinet minister said on Thursday.
"We need to do the best we can to prepare for the Games at this moment, but it could go either way," Taro Kono, administrative and regulatory reform minister, said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference.
A global Covid-19 resurgence, including record infection levels in Japan, has raised fresh doubts about the Games, which were postponed by a year in 2020.
The government on Wednesday expanded its state of emergency well beyond the Tokyo region, and new coronavirus infections in the capital exceeded 1,500 on Thursday, according to public broadcaster NHK.
The Japanese public's appetite for the sporting extravaganza has waned, with 77% of respondents in a survey this week saying it should be cancelled or postponed. But the Games, and the tourism dollars they bring, are a top priority for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Coronavirus Japan Spotlight Chart - cases default
01:42 PM
US could lift European travel restrictions this month
Reuters reports that the White House is still considering rescinding entry bans for most non-US citizens who were recently in Brazil and much of Europe in the final days before President Donald Trump leaves office.
On Tuesday, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) signed an order requiring nearly all air travellers to present a negative coronavirus test or proof of recovery from Covid-19 to enter the United States starting January 26. Airlines hope the new testing requirements will clear the way for the administration to lift the restrictions that reduced travel from some European countries by 95% or more.
Airlines for America, an industry trade group, praised the testing plan but encouraged the White House "to concurrently lift existing entry restrictions on travellers from Europe, the United Kingdom and Brazil."
Marty Cetron, director of CDC's global migration and quarantine division, said those entry bans were an "opening act strategy" to address the virus spread and should now be "actively reconsidered."
"This testing strategy is the pivot to something that is more comprehensive and more sensible in a lot of ways," he added.
01:35 PM
'Families are being priced out of holidays'
Gary Lewis, CEO of The Travel Network Group, has warned that the cost of tests will deter many from travelling after lockdown. He said:There’s no doubt that we need to do all we can to get the virus under control but whilst current measures are in place people will be deterred from travelling, even after UK lockdown has lifted. The cost of PCR testing could put people off travelling. A family of four, with children over 11, could have to pay £500 for the tests, in addition to the cost of the holiday.
The travel industry and holidaymakers alike are looking to the Government for clarity on how the vaccination programme will be rolled out, as this will be the key to open travel again in the near future. We know that people are longing for a holiday and, if they are hoping to get away later in 2021, it’s key to talk to travel agents now as availability will be low due to bookings being rolled over from 2020 and lower capacity in resorts. We’re hoping that once the vaccination programme is fully underway, we can all indulge our love of travel again.
01:28 PM
Which countries deserve a travel corridor?
The Government reviews its travel corridor list every Thursday at 5pm and there are scores of absent countries with far lower seven-day infection rates than the UK (552.1 per 100,000).
Here are a few:
Costa Rica: 118.8 per 100,000
Turkey; 85.3
Mexico: 69.4
Greece: 42.4
Ecuador: 39.3
Oman: 23.4
Jamaica: 17.6
India: 8.7
Egypt: 7.9
Pakistan: 7.3
Kenya: 1.9
01:22 PM
'Here in Botswana, dry January has been mandated by the government'
Despite few Covid deaths, strict restrictions remain – but at least nature has offered some solace, says Yvonne Gavan.
Need info on pre-departure testing? Don't go to the Foreign Office...
Emma Beaumont has unearthed a few more examples of the FCDO's 'helpful' links for travellers needing to book Covid tests to fly to the UK:
Mauritius
No testing info provided at all. The General Covid website is in French. There are tips for self-isolation on the site, which include “gardening, avoiding contact with others.”
Finland
Link provided takes you to a health website with a small section on foreign travel. It reads: “You can ask about travel-related tests from private medical clinics, for example.” There is no further info on how to book tests.
01:06 PM
Nintendo theme park opening in Japan delayed by surging virus rates
The grand opening of a Nintendo theme park in Japan has been pushed back for a second time as Covid cases in the country continue to rise.
Super Nintendo World, located near Osaka, was initially due to open last summer in time for the Tokyo Olympics (also postponed), but this was called off when the national Covid-19 caseload started to rise.
A second opening date was set for February 4, but with infections in Japan still out of control, and a state of emergency covering Tokyo and Osaka, the theme park's operator, Universal Studios Japan, has called it off once again.
The $580 million project has been eagerly awaited by fans of Nintendo's video game franchises, and will offer rides, attractions and stores inspired by characters such as Super Mario, Bowser and Yoshi.
12:51 PM
Residents of the tiny Falkland Islands offered £500 to take a staycation
In August 2020, the British Government offered citizens up to £10 off meals in restaurants via the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme.
Nearly 8,000 miles from the UK, the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands is offering its residents an even bigger incentive: £500 to go on holiday. As long as it’s in the Falklands, reports Joshua Dell.
The Tourism Recovery Incentive Programme (TRIP), which has been in operation since October 2020 and will continue until at least March 31, was launched to provide much-needed support to the Falklands’ tourism sector.
Travel industry responds as vaccine stokes holiday confidence in over-50s
There's a cautious feeling of optimism in the travel sector as holiday bookings among the older generation – encouraged by imminent vaccination against the coronavirus – continue to climb.
Several industry insiders have remarked upon the emerging trend. Erin Johnson, marketing director at Sovereign Luxury Travel, said:
The rapid vaccine roll-out has given the over-50s confidence and reassurance and provided an incentive for them to book. With this market feeling confident that they will have been vaccinated by late spring we are seeing strong sales for May and into summer with many customers wanting to treat themselves and choosing upgraded stays focusing on suites and villas and perhaps booking for longer than they normally would.
Meanwhile David Armstrong, CEO at HolidayPirates, believes that inoculation of the over-70s could fuel a staycation boom over spring:
There is still a huge amount of enthusiasm, loyalty and pent-up demand for cruise, and the over-70s have already been booking for late 2021 and into 2022. Many cruise operators have suspended sailings until late spring. The time-frame for long-haul travel also looks similar, so first trips for the vaccinated, adventurous older person are likely to be restricted to the UK and short-haul destinations – but it may mean that festive family get-togethers could be rescheduled and we could see a number of domestic multi-gen getaways scheduled throughout spring.
12:22 PM
Jet2 adds 700 extra flights for summer 2021
Jet2 has expanded its summer 2022 programme with an extra 700 flights to meet a strong demand from holiday-hungry customers.
The travel company's decision to increase capacity from Leeds-Bradford, Glasgow and Newcastle airports comes just one week after next year's itineraries were announced.
Several cities have also been added to its list of destinations, with holidays to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Budapest, Paris, Rome, Krakow, Nice and Prague now available to be booked.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We know there is a lot of pent up demand, and since putting our Summer 22 programme on sale we have been very encouraged by the number of bookings coming through from customers and independent travel agents.
"Customers clearly want their all-important holidays to look forward to, so we have responded quickly by adding thousands of additional seats to a range of brilliant hotspots from these three bases."
12:12 PM
Sandals Resorts likely to cover cost of tests for UK guests
Karl Thompson, Managing Director of Unique Caribbean Holidays, UK tour operator for Sandals Resorts, told Telegraph Travel it is "highly likely" that its hotels will help arrange and cover the cost of tests for British guests.
He said: “The introduction of Covid testing as part of the UK’s entry requirements is causing more disruption for the travel industry. The good news is that the Government confirmed this morning that rapid test results will be accepted as these are cheaper, quicker and easier to facilitate in some countries than PCR tests.
“Although customers from the UK can’t travel due to lockdown restrictions, we’re covering the cost of rapid tests in our Caribbean resorts for US guests who also need proof of a negative Covid test result before they arrive in their home country. It is highly likely that this will be extended to cover UK guests when they can travel again and if the requirement is still in place.”
12:04 PM
Comment: Once again, Grant Shapps has unleashed chaos for Britons overseas
Anyone due to board the 3.45pm from Singapore to London this afternoon has the right to feel royally cheesed off, writes Greg Dickinson.
Up until last night, you would have been under the impression that you needed to have a test certificate to board the plane, as the flight is due to land after the Government’s much-hyped ‘Test to Arrive’ scheme comes into force at 4am on Friday.
If you missed it, this latest measure means that everyone coming into the UK needs to provide a negative Covid-19 test certificate, taken within 72 hours of travel.
grant shapps - Getty
But yesterday, the day before your flight home from Singapore, you would not have known what kind of test you needed, what information you needed to supply on your certificate, nor where you could get the test from. Presumably, you would have been quite concerned about the threat of a £500 fine, too.
Finally, at around 3pm yesterday the FCDO started updating its pages on how to get a test in each country. But it was too late. The window for getting a test was now so tight for this Singapore flight, and indeed hundreds more due to land in the UK on Friday, that Grant Shapps was forced to tweet that the testing requirement has been extended to Monday January 18.
Norwegian has abandoned all its long-haul services in an attempt to survive the financial pressures of the pandemic.
The low-cost airline will now focus exclusively on short-haul travel as it restarts negotiations with the Norwegian government regarding financial aid.
It was one of the first carriers to apply the European budget model to transatlantic flights, but with the majority of is planes grounded by the pandemic, Norwegian's debt has now spiralled to over $7 billion.
Chief executive Jacob Schram said: “Our short-haul network has always been the backbone of Norwegian and will form the basis of a future resilient business model.”
The knock-on effect has been felt in the UK, and particularly at Gatwick Airport, where over 1,000 jobs have been cut as a result of the decision.
11:38 AM
'We need more travel corridors – it's impossible to book holidays right now'
With travellers, from Monday, required to take a Covid test before they visit the UK, tour operators are urging the Government to expand the quarantine-free corridor list as a matter of urgency.
Candice Buchan, Africa Product Manager for Rainbow Tours, says:
It is getting harder and harder for anyone to keep up with the current restrictions let alone give advice on them. I think we need to start expanding the travel corridor so that we can get the world moving again.
Jim Molloy, Sales Manager at Regent Holidays, part of the ITC Travel Group, added:
It’s always the same with travel restrictions, they are quick to impose them but once they are in place they seem to be reviewed very rarely. There have been very few destinations added or returned to the corridor list over the last six months and most of these have been European; no-one appears to be looking at long-haul destinations and their infection levels.
11:29 AM
Airport temperature scanners 'not reliable' at detecting Covid, say scientists
Soon after the coronavirus pandemic was declared back in March, many airports around the world began to install body temperature scanners that could supposedly detect passengers carrying symptoms of Covid-19.
But a new study by the University of Portsmouth has found that these scanners are prone to supplying 'false negative' results, potentially allowing infected travellers to pass through unchecked.
Professor Mike Tipton, human physiologist and expert in temperature regulation, said: “If scanners are not giving an accurate reading, we run the risk of falsely excluding people from places they may want, or need, to go, and we also risk allowing people with the virus to spread the undetected infection they have.”
The scientists behind the study recommend that the full-body scanners are replaced by twin temperature measurements taken from the finger and eye, which they claim to be a far more accurate indicator of coronavirus symptoms.
airport covid temperature scan - Getty
11:13 AM
More confusion over Government testing rules
The Foreign Office has updated its destination advice pages with information on local testing facilities, ostensibly to help travellers obtain the requisite negative Covid test results before they depart for the UK.
But Emma Beaumont has found, in many cases, that the links provided only add to the confusion. Here are some of her findings:
USA
The FCDO link takes you down a rabbit hole of clicks, each website promising the next one will have the answer.
Covid testing is controlled on a state level, with all having different arrangements. In some areas, testing is only available to local residents. The New York website makes me take an online assessment of symptoms and potential contacts in order to book a test. It needs everything from Zip code to any underlying conditions. After you press submit it is unclear if/when you will be approved for a test.
On the Texas website there are links to drive-through test sites and once I click there is another form. Questions include symptom checks and, more unusually, whether I wear a mask outside. At the end I am told I am ineligible for a test.
The general CDC website (also linked to by the FCDO) suggests all passengers travelling internationally from the US should get a test, so it's surprising they don’t have clearer info on pre-departure tests.
France
Link provided simply takes you to a general Covid heath website, with guidelines on the curfew and other restrictions, but not pre-departure tests.
A Google search reveals a website with more info on how to get tests, with a map of clinics – though it's geared towards residents rather than visitors.
Further research shows that Antigen tests can be purchased at pharmacies, costing from €9.45 up to €15. If the Government confirms rapid tests are allowed to be shown, France may emerge as an easier holiday option this summer.
Greece
Link to a general health website, with a Covid subsection. There is a page for travel, but it says it is “under construction”. A number for a ‘National Covid Helpline’ is provided, but feels like this isn’t geared towards tests for travellers.
11:02 AM
England's greatest wildlife spectacle – just a couple of hours from London
You do not have to venture far from the capital for a sensational wildlife safari, as James Litston found out on his latest jaunt to the East Anglian seaside. He writes:
Midwinter on the Norfolk coast may not exactly be beach weather, but the bodies stretched out on the strand seem totally in their element. From the shallows to the sandy shore and all the way up to the dunes, they mill about or take leisurely naps, filling the width of the beach. Wrapped in thick blubber and slick, silky coats (dark slate for the adults, pure white for the pups), they all seem quite oblivious to the bitter North Sea wind. We sightseers may be shivering as we bob in a boat, admiring their antics, but conditions here could not be more ideal for these grey seals.
We're at Blakeney National Nature Reserve and this is Blakeney Point, a shingly spit whose habitat hosts England's largest grey seal colony. Winter's far from balmy conditions may not appeal to beach-loving humans, but they suit the seals so well that this is the peak of their pupping season.
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, has urged the Government to overhaul its approach to travel before the current lockdown is lifted.
He says:
With few bookings currently being made for future travel, now is the time for a wholesale rethink of the current procedures for when lockdown ends, hopefully by March, when some 30 million UK citizens should have been vaccinated. Travelling is becoming too complicated, with consumers having to carry out too much research before they book, and that is reducing confidence.
We now need to see a clear traffic light system introduced to help consumers, as in the EU, showing whether a country is red, amber or green. Red would mean you can’t enter the UK without a pre-arrival test and 10-day quarantine; amber would mean you take a pre-arrival test only; and green would mean you are free to enter without any test needed. Those who have been vaccinated would also have to abide by these rules.
This clarity would enable the travel sector to give up-to-date and clear guidance and enable consumers to easily check which category their country is in. We may have left the EU but we can still use the effective advice system it defined.
10:36 AM
Guidance on testing likely to baffle many travellers
The Foreign Office (FCDO) has finally revealed which types of Covid test will be accepted from Monday, when the requirement to present evidence of a negative result upon arrival in the UK comes into force.
Unfortunately, you might need a degree in virology to understand it.
Its website states: “The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml. This could include tests such as: a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests; an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device.”
Presumably your clinic will be able to confirm whether its tests fit the bill.
The FCDO adds: “It is your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details so you must check with your test provider that it meets those standards.
“You may not be able to travel if the test does not meet these standards. It is your responsibility to ensure you get the right test that meets the above requirements.
In the early months of the pandemic, Brazil became the South American epicentre of coronavirus infections, since when it has maintained a consistently high infection rate.
The seven-day caseload is currently 209.9 per 100,000, higher than any of its neighbouring countries bar Colombia.
Coronavirus Brazil Spotlight Chart - Cases default
10:15 AM
'Vaccine-confidence' fuels holiday boom among the over-50s
A surge in holiday bookings for the spring and summer is being driven "vaccine-confidence" among the over-50s.
Travel firms are reporting a sales boom thanks to bookings from older customers, many of whom will be among the first to be inoculated against Covid-19.
Andrew Flintham, the managing director of TUI, said: "We're seeing a customer base or age group that wasn't booking before, that is starting to book. The over-50s, we assume, is on the back to the vaccine news.
"People are booking later into the summer, hedging their bets. More July and August and a lot of demand for September and October. People are booking longer holidays, we're seeing more people booking 10 or 11 or 14 nights rather than seven. People are maybe catching up on what they've missed."
Tour operators have also noticed a growing demand for multigenerational holidays.
"It is family time we've all missed. We can't get away from our own families, but our broader families we can't see, and that's feeding into our choices,” said Mr Flintham.
beach spain - Getty
09:57 AM
Is anyone actually flying in from Brazil right now?
The Government has been urged to ban travellers from Brazil over fears about yet another new Covid variant, writes Oliver Smith. However, Brazil has already banned all flights from the UK over the variant discovered by British scientists last month, so there are currently no direct services between the two countries. British Airways usually operates flights from Heathrow to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but none have run so far this year.
Travellers from Brazil can reach the UK via a third country, although options are limited. If they want to fly via the US they require US citizenship or a visa, leaving Mexico and Portugal two of the most likely routes. They would still be required to isolate for 10 days after reaching UK soil (and from Monday present evidence of a negative test), although doubts have been raised about how strictly the quarantine policy is being enforced.
09:48 AM
Government blasted for 'middle of the night' decision to delay pre-departure testing
Labour has lambasted the Government's decision to delay new airport testing rules until next week, arguing that the it puts people "at serious risk."
A new requirement for all international arrivals to present proof of a negative Covid test before departing for the UK was originally intended to come into effect tomorrow, but has now been postponed until Monday to "give international arrivals time to prepare."
Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow home secretary, said: "The Government has lacked a comprehensive airport testing policy through this pandemic and now it is slipping into utter chaos.
“Issuing statements in the middle of the night, because their proposals are unworkable, causes ever greater challenges for travellers and industry.
“This chronic failure is also putting us at risk yet again, from strains such as those that emerged in South Africa and Brazil. As ever, Ministers are too slow to act and it’s putting people at serious risk.”
09:38 AM
British skiers turned away
French border police sent a group of skiers packing yesterday. The group were attempting to travel to Switzerland (where ski resorts are open), via France, on the Eurostar at St Pancras.
London-based Eurostar train manager Justin shared the news of the failed attempt to break lockdown travel rules on Twitter, saying “A ski trip to Switzerland does not count as essential travel on Eurostar.”
A ski trip to Switzerland does not count as essential travel on eurostar. A group was turned away at St Pancras by the French border police this morning. The very limited reasons for travel to France can be found here: https://t.co/gCARmnet5l Stay home! pic.twitter.com/01zbjmkC5f
Australian premier proposes using Outback mining camps to quarantine travellers
The state premier of Queensland is pushing for quarantined travellers to be relocated to remote mining camps after a Covid outbreak at a Brisbane hotel forced the city into a three-day lockdown.
People arriving in Australia are currently required to enter isolation in state-designated hotels, but concerns are now being raised after a cleaner at a hotel in central Brisbane was found to have contracted the UK coronavirus variant.
Queensland's head of government, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is now urging the National Cabinet to consider the proposal, arguing that many of these camps are comfortable and would provide balconies or other outside space for internees.
However, there is some opposition from politicians in New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard countering: "There's strong views held in our public health team it makes sense to continue to have the hotel quarantine arrangements we currently have."
09:14 AM
'Surely it’s now time to scrap the travel corridor'
Jonny Bealby, founder of adventure tour operator Wild Frontiers, argues that a combination of testing rules, quarantine and FCDO advice is killing the travel industry:
Right now interest in booking holidays has all but stalled. Never mind the legal ban on leisure travel during lockdown, even when we are allowed to travel again we will still have to contend with quarantine, a seemingly ever dwindling travel corridor list, an almost blanket FCDO advice against travel – making comprehensive travel insurance impossible to find – and now the new Covid PCR tests requirements before being allowed back into the country.
With all the uncertainty involved in that it seems the public have thrown in the towel on hoping for a holiday and are doing little more than waiting to see what happens next. Surely it’s now time to scrap the travel corridor list, remove Covid related FCDO advice against all but essential travel, and start to implement a vaccine passport.
Vaccinating its citizens is the one positive area that the UK is ahead, and is the one chance I see for leisure travel returning any time soon. You have to show a yellow fever stamp in your inoculation card if entering certain African countries, so what’s the difference?
09:05 AM
It's 'Travel Corridor Day'
Another Thursday, another update to the travel corridor list expected later today from Grant Shapps. It's possibly too much to expect new countries to be added to the UK's 'green list', but there are several contenders for removal.
These are the destinations in the crosshairs, along with their seven-day case rates:
Barbados (91.9 per 100,000)
Chile (141.5 per 100,000)
Bahrain (128.4 per 100,000)
St Vincent and the Grenadines (136 per 100,000)
Coronavirus Quarantine Tracker Extended
08:51 AM
New test for arrival rules pushed back till Monday as confusion reigns over which tests will be accepted
The Department for Transport (DfT) has been forced to delay its pre-departure testing for passengers after a backlash from the travel industry over hold-ups in guidance for the new regime, reports Charles Hymas.
Passengers and airlines are to get a weekend grace period when they will not be fined after being left in limbo over the types of Covid tests that would be accepted by border officials when they arrived in the UK.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, had promised last week the DfT would detail the “specificity” and “sensitivity” required of the tests, whether the gold standard PCR, which can cost up to £180, or the cheaper more rapid LAMP or lateral flow versions.
But even by yesterday evening there was still no guidance with the new law requiring all travellers into the UK to have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure due to come into force at 4am tomorrow (Fri).
UPDATE: To give international arrivals time to prepare ⏱️ passengers will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before departure to England from MONDAY 18 JANUARY at 4am 📅
Passengers must remember to complete a Passenger Locator Form before arriving back into England – anyone WITHOUT proof of a negative test faces a £500 fine.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
The first electric vehicle I ever drove was a Tesla Roadster in 2011. It was with great anticipation that I slid behind the wheel of the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S. Sure, it's a midsize SUV, but it wears the Type S moniker, a name reserved only for the most fun-to-drive in the Acura stable. On launch, the ZDX will be available in A-Spec and Type S trims -- both of which come equipped with a 102 kWh battery.
The NFL will allow players to wear protective Guardian Caps during games beginning with the 2024 season. The caps were previously mandated for practices.
