New Covid-19 variant: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia back on UK’s travel red list! [update]

update (29 November 2021): Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia have also been added to UK’s travel red list.
The UK High Commission has confirmed that British Airways will resume direct flights to South Africa from 30 November 2021, with the first flight to London on 01 December 2021. Virgin Airlines will also continue flying three times a week between London and Johannesburg.

Following the detection of a new Covid-19 variant, B.1.1.529, in South Africa, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia will be added to the UK’s travel red list. This becomes effective from midday today (26 November 2021). Direct flights from these six countries will be banned from midday Friday (26 November 2021) until hotel quarantine is up and running from 04:00 on 28 November 2021. Passengers arriving from 04:00 on 28 November 2021 in the UK will be required to book and pay for a government-approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days. UK and Irish residents arriving from these six countries between midday Friday (26 November 2021) and 04:00 on 28 November 2021, and who have been in these countries within the last 10 days, must quarantine at home for 10 days and take PCR tests on Day 2 and Day 8, even if they already have a lateral flow test booking. From midday on Friday (26 November 2021), non-UK and Irish residents who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into the UK. This does not apply to those who have stayed airside and only transited through any of these countries while changing flights. We'll keep you posted!