SOUTH AFRICA / UNITED KINGDOM: SA back on UK red list
A new variant of COVID-19 discovered in South Africa, B.1.1.529, has prompted the UK to place South Africa back on its red list, along with Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia from midday 26 November. Direct flights to the UK from these countries, both commercial and private, will be banned until hotel quarantine is up and running at 04h00, November 28. This excludes cargo and freight without passengers. Non-UK and Irish residents who have been in these countries in the last 10 days will not be able to enter England, and possibly the rest of the UK. UK and Ireland residents arriving in the UK between midday 26 November and 04h00 on Sunday, 28 November, must isolate at home for 10 days and take PCR tests on days 2 and 8. Residents arriving from 04h00 on Sunday, 28 November, must isolate in a government-approved facility, also for 10 days and with tests on days 2 and 8.