Travel restrictions imposed by countries around the world on travel to the UK have expanded, along with health measures concerning arrivals from London, all in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus and its variant "Omicron." This comes at a time when the UK continues to record record numbers of daily infections. The UK has experienced fluctuations in daily infection numbers over the past two weeks, surpassing 106,000 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily count since the pandemic began nearly two years ago.
As a result of this surge in cases, several countries within Europe and beyond have tightened their travel rules regarding travelers arriving from the UK. According to British media reports reviewed by "Al Arabiya.net," there are currently 30 countries around the world imposing restrictions on arrivals from the UK, including three Arab nations.
While some countries have enforced stricter quarantine rules on those arriving from the United Kingdom, others have imposed a complete ban on these travelers. The most notable countries currently imposing restrictions on travel to and from the UK include Morocco, Kuwait, and Qatar, as well as several European nations, including neighboring France, which completely closed its borders to British travelers starting December 17.
Germany also implemented new rules last week, classifying the UK as a "worrying" area concerning the virus. Consequently, those wishing to travel to Germany from the UK must present a negative Coronavirus test result and undergo a two-week quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.
Additionally, India recently introduced new restrictions on travelers from the UK, including undergoing testing upon arrival at Indian airports—followed by seven days of quarantine and another test on the eighth day after arrival. China has also prohibited entry for travelers coming from the UK, as has New Zealand, which limited entry from the UK to "essential" reasons only.
South Korea has mandated a 14-day quarantine for arrivals from the UK, meaning that non-essential trips will not be possible, and under the regulations, individuals are not allowed to leave quarantine rooms, which cost about £75 per night.
