Britain adds Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, Philippines to 'red list'

A UK border sign welcomes passengers on arrival at Heathrow airport in west London on December 31, 2020. (AFP/File)

• They join about three dozen other nations mainly in Africa, the Middle East and South America
• There have been calls for the inclusion of some European countries where COVID-19 cases have surged

LONDON: The British government is adding four more countries — Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and the Philippines — to its travel ban list amid concerns over new variants of the coronavirus.
The Department for Transport said the latest restrictions will take effect in England from April 9.
Under the terms of the travel bans, international visitors who have departed from or traveled through through the countries in the preceding 10 days will be refused entry into England.
British and Irish nationals, and those who have residence rights in the UK, can enter but must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days, at their own expense.
When the four countries are added, there will be a total of 39 nations on the government’s so-called “red list.” They include Brazil and South Africa, where two of the variants of the virus have been identified.
The other nations of the UK — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — have similar lists to those that apply in England.