Those who run afoul of the new regulations face stiff fines and penalties.
The British High Commission has announced the UK’s latest rules for travel entry. The United Kingdom has been on full lockdown since January 4, and with effect from January 18, all travellers entering the UK – including British citizens – will need to present a negative Covid-19 test. Travellers from certain countries have been banned from entering the country. That includes all South American countries and Portugal, even if the passenger only transited that country. Travel is also banned from a number of African countries, but so far, no countries in Asia are affected.
Travellers must present proof of a negative test result before boarding, and be prepared to show this evidence on arrival or risk a £500 fine. The new measures apply to arrivals into England, although the BBC reported that, “Scotland is set to adopt the same approach to international travellers, while Wales and Northern Ireland are [also] expected to announce plans for pre-arrival testing.”
Most arrivals have to self-isolate for 10 days after arrival in the UK or face a £10,000 fine. However, travellers can opt in to the Test to Release scheme to shorten this period, providing they have not arrived from or through South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Zambia, or Zimbabwe in the 10 days before arrival in England.
Their latest travel advice can be found HERE. There are also some changes to the PCR testing requirements effective January 18, and those can be found HERE.
The High Commission website includes a list of places where you can get tested for Covid-19 in Malaysia, and that can be found HERE. You may also use the location-based MySejahtera app to identify nearby clinics and facilities for tests. You must ensure the test complies with the specific requirements mandated by the UK government prior to travel.
It’s a good idea to stay in touch with your local embassy and check with them for updates from your own country, as well as keeping abreast of local developments. British nationals can subscribe for updates on their website.
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