LIVE updates: Ban on travel to UK from South America and Portugal comes into force

The ban, which also covers the Central American state of Panama and Portugal – due to its strong travel links with Brazil – and the former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde, came into force at 4am on Friday, January 15.

Scientists analysing the Brazilian variant believe the mutations it shares with the new South African strain seem to be associated with a rapid increase in cases in locations where there have already been large outbreaks of the disease.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the ban as a “precautionary” move to ensure the vaccination programme rolling out across the UK was not disrupted by new variants of the virus.

“We don’t want to trip up at this late stage. We don’t have cases at the moment but this is a precautionary approach,” he told BBC News.

He also said there is an exemption for British and Irish nationals with residence rights, but that they must self-isolate for 10 days along with their households.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps

Last updated: Friday, 15 January, 2021, 07:46

The R rate has dropped below 1 in several regions, but remains above 1 in the North East.
Travellers from across South America have been banned from entering the UK amid growing concerns about a mutant coronavirus strain from Brazil.
The UK economy is on track to head back into recession as official figures showed that it fell in November after England was placed in lockdown for a second time.

UK heads towards double-dip recession

The UK economy is on track to head back into recession as official figures showed that it fell in November after England was placed in lockdown for a second time.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said UK gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 2.6% month-on-month in November.

Darren Morgan, director for economic statistics at the ONS, said: “The economy took a hit from restrictions put in place to contain the pandemic during November, with pubs and hairdressers seeing the biggest impact.”

R rate remains above 1 in North East

The number of Covid-19 infections across England is falling as a whole, with the reproductive rate – the R – below 1 in some regions, University of Cambridge researchers have said.

The R rate refers to the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to.

The Cambridge researchers said regions with a current R rate below 1 are the East of England, London, the South East, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.

But they say it is above 1 in the South West, North West, North East and East Midlands.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is due to release its own figures later, while Government scientists will release their own R rate.

Ban on travellers from South America amid fears of Covid variant

Travellers from across South America have been banned from entering the UK amid growing concerns about a mutant coronavirus strain which has emerged in Brazil.

The ban which, also covers the Central American state of Panama and Portugal – due to its strong travel links with Brazil – and the former Portuguese colony of Cape Verde, came into force at 4am on Friday.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the ban as a “precautionary” move.

“We don’t want to trip up at this late stage. We don’t have cases at the moment but this is a precautionary approach,” he told BBC News.

British and Irish nationals and others with residence rights are exempted from the measure.

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