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LONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Travellers to England from abroad
will from 0400 GMT on Jan. 15 be required to show proof that
they have had a negative COVID-19 test up to three days before
their departure, the government said in a statement.
The new rule was announced earlier in January as authorities
try to ramp up protection against new, more infectious strains
of the coronavirus from other countries.
Travel into and out of Britain is at very low levels
currently due to lockdowns which ban visits abroad for most
people.
Providing details of its new policy, the government said
that transport operators would need to check that passengers had
proof of a negative test before they boarded their flight, train
or ferry, and there would also be checks on arrival.
Fines starting from 500 pounds ($677.40) will be issued to
passengers and transport operators who do not comply with the
new rules.
There will be a very restricted number of exemptions,
including hauliers, to allow the free flow of freight, and air,
international rail and maritime crew.
The test must be of a diagnostic-standard test such as a PCR
test, and could in some cases include LAMP and lateral flow
tests within set limits, the statement added.
The pre-departure test requirement is in addition to
quarantine rules which require arrivals from abroad to
self-isolate for ten days, unless they opt to have a COVID-19
test after five days and it is negative, releasing them early.
($1 = 0.7381 pounds)
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden)
