Britons arriving from India must now pay to self-quarantine in government-approved hotels for 10 days after the country was added to the travel red list.
From 4 a.m., only UK, Irish and third-country nationals with a right of residence, including long-term visa holders, can enter the UK.
Other people are banned if they have been in India within the previous 10 days.
The change was driven by a worrying increase in infections, with 332,730 cases reported in India Friday – the world’s highest ever daily tally and concerns over a new COVID variant.
This family arrived in time to quarantine themselves at home instead of paying for a hotel
The last passengers to land before the restrictions arrived at Heathrow on Thursday evening on a Vistara flight from Delhi.
Among them, a family of three, relieved to have managed to change their tickets at the last minute, narrowly avoiding having to pay thousands of people for the quarantine of the hotel.
“It’s really great – we would be in quarantine at home,” said the mother – who didn’t want to share her name.
“That’s the best part. And I have a child with autism, so it’s best if he stays home with us and has all of his food preferences at home.”
Quarantine at the hotel costs £ 1,750 for an adult for 10 days. An additional adult or child over 11 in the same room costs £ 650 and a child aged 5-11 costs £ 325.
Jetal Zala, a student at the University of Stirling, who returned home to see her parents, was unable to catch a flight to the UK before the restrictions kicked in and will now miss teaching on the campus.
“Our classes were supposed to be face-to-face starting in May,” she says. “This is why I plan to move in late April and start studying on campus and have experience of college and university life in the UK.”
Travel restrictions are also disrupting businesses.
Ranjit Mathrani, president of the MW Eat restaurant group, says most …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-04-23 03:44:00
