UK announces South America and Portugal travel bans amid Brazil variant fears

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced a travel ban for in-bound arrivals from South America and Portugal.

The restrictions are being brought in from tomorrow as fears grow over a coronavirus variant first discovered in Brazil.

The ban applies to people who have travelled from, or through, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela in the last 10 days.

"Travel from Portugal to the UK will also be suspended given its strong travel links with Brazil – acting as another way to reduce the risk of importing infections," Shapps said in the announcement on Twitter.

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There will be some exemptions, including hauliers travelling from Portugal to allow the transport of essential goods.

Also, British and Irish citizens as well as foreign nationals with residence rights are still able to travel from these countries but must self-isolate for 10 days, along with their households he said.

Travel bans are already in place for UK-bound passengers from South Africa and Denmark, after new variants of the virus were detected in these countries.

Further strict travel restrictions will come into place from Monday, with all travellers required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 3 days before boarding their flight.

It comes after a week of record figures in the UK.

On Wednesday, the country recorded it's highest number of daily deaths since the start of the pandemic with 1,564 people dying within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test and another 47,525 daily confirmed coronavirus cases.

While provisional NHS data shows 2,661,850 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered in England between December 8 and January 12.