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Editor’s Note: This list was current as of 12 p.m. ET on December 21.
The new variant discovered in the UK led authorities to impose a level 4 lockdown on London and south-east England and tighten restrictions for all of England during the festive period.
Since the UK closure was announced on Saturday, more than a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East have restricted travel from the UK and in some cases have also traveled from other countries that have documented cases with the variant.
The variant has also been detected in Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia, according to the World Health Organization. In South Africa, a different variant of the coronavirus has been reported, WHO technical lead for Covid-19 Maria van Kerkhove said on Monday.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working to support British citizens affected by travel disruptions caused by the new restrictions, which have isolated UK travelers from much of Europe and other parts of the world.
The United States had not banned travel from the United Kingdom until Monday afternoon.
Travelers wearing a face mask or covering themselves stand at the check-in counters at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 on December 21, as a number of countries around the world banned travelers from arriving from the UK.
Niklas Halle’n / AFP via Getty Images
US Deputy Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir told CNN that as of Monday morning, there were no plans for US restrictions on travel to or from the UK due to the new variant of the coronavirus, but “anything is possible, we just have to put everything on the table, have an open scientific discussion and make a better recommendation.”
“CDC is closely monitoring the situation and actively evaluating the implications of the new variant and response options with respect to international travel,” according to a statement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COUNTRIES THAT PROHIBIT TRAVEL
Argentina
According to a joint statement released Sunday by Argentina’s Interior and Health Ministries, Argentina would allow just one more flight from Great Britain to land at Buenos Aires International Airport on Monday morning. Subsequent flights were canceled.
Belgium
Belgium will block travelers from the UK on Monday due to the variant of the coronavirus that has emerged there, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Sunday morning.
Bulgaria
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov called on Sunday a working meeting with members of his cabinet in response to the new variant, during which it was decided to temporarily suspend air travel between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom from Monday until 31 December. January 2021, his office said.
Canada is among the nations to temporarily ban travel from the UK.
Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images North America / Getty Images
Canada
Canada says it will ban most passenger travel from the UK starting at midnight Sunday for at least 72 hours. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the news in a tweet Sunday night saying it was being done to “protect” Canadians across the country.
Chile
The Chilean government announced that all flights to and from the UK will be suspended from Tuesday and that travelers who have been to the UK in the past 14 days would have to self-quarantine.
Colombia
Colombian President Iván Duque announced that all flights between Colombia and the United Kingdom will be suspended from Monday. Travelers who have been to the UK in the last 14 days will also need to self-quarantine when entering Colombia, Duque told reporters.
Czech Republic
The Czech government will suspend flights from the UK from 6am ET on Monday in reaction to the new strain of coronavirus in the UK, a government statement said early Monday.
Denmark
Denmark has temporarily banned air travel from the UK for 48 hours. Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht said Denmark is “in a very dire situation” with widespread infection throughout the country. “The mutated Covid-19 virus, which has spread rapidly in London and other parts of England,” could make it difficult to control the infection. The ban will be in effect until December 23.
The Savior
El Salvador prohibits entry to the country from the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Estonia
The Estonian government announced on Sunday the suspension of air traffic between Estonia and the United Kingdom, which will take effect at midnight until the end of the year.
France
French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a 48-hour ban on the movement of people from the UK to France starting Sunday night and applies to all methods of transport.
The German government in Berlin (above) is restricting travel from the UK.
CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP / AFP / Getty Images
Germany
The German government is restricting travel to and from the UK and South Africa due to the new variant of the coronavirus.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong will ban all passengers who have stayed in the UK for more than two hours in the past 14 days from arriving in the city from Tuesday, Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan said during a press conference on Monday. .
India
Flights between India and the United Kingdom are suspended until the end of 2020, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Monday. Passengers arriving in India from the UK before December 22 are required to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test.
Iran
Iran announced the suspension of flights to and from the UK for two weeks on Sunday.
Israel
The Israeli government has banned flights from the UK, Denmark and South Africa.
Italy
Italy suspends flights between the country and the United Kingdom due to the new variant of the coronavirus identified in England, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio announced on Sunday.
Jordan
The government has decided to suspend all direct and indirect passenger (transit) flights from the UK from Monday to January 3, 2021, according to a statement from the Jordanian government spokesperson and Minister of State for Media Affairs. Communication, Ali Al-Ayed.
Kuwait
Kuwait has suspended flights arriving from the UK as of Monday.
Latvia
Latvia suspended travel to and from the UK from December 21 to January 1, the Latvian Transport Ministry announced in a statement on Sunday.
Lithuania
UK fights will be called off, the Lithuanian Prime Minister tweeted.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg temporarily suspended flights from the UK after a new variant of the coronavirus was found there, according to a government statement on Sunday.
Morocco
Morocco suspended flights to and from the UK as of Sunday night (December 20), the Moroccan State News Agency (MAP) reported.
Netherlands
The Netherlands will ban all passenger flights from the UK.
Oman
Oman will close its air, sea and land borders starting Tuesday, December 22, for a week to monitor the new variant of coronavirus reported by the United Kingdom, Oman’s state news agency reported.
Pakistan
Pakistan suspends direct or indirect travel from the UK to the country.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistani Ministry of Aviation, the suspension will be in effect from December 23 to 30.
Peru
Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti announced the ban on flights from Europe for two weeks as a preventive measure. He also announced a ban on foreigners from coming to Peru if they have been in the UK for the past two weeks.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland will ban flights from Britain on Monday and Tuesday, the government announced on Sunday.
Russia joins the ban on flights to and from the UK.
Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP / Getty Images
Russia
Russia will suspend flights to and from the United Kingdom for a week starting at midnight on December 22 Moscow time, state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the Russian coronavirus response headquarters.
Spain
The government of Spain, in coordination with Portugal, will deny entry to travelers from the United Kingdom from Tuesday, La Moncloa of Spain announced on Monday afternoon. Spanish citizens and residents are exempt. The government also announced that it will tighten border controls in Gibraltar.
Sweden
Sweden bans travel from the UK, the country’s foreign minister said on Sunday.
Switzerland
Switzerland has issued a blanket entry ban for foreigners arriving from Britain or South Africa, as well as a retroactive quarantine following the discovery of a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus in Britain and South Africa.
Tunisia
Tunisia suspended flights to and from the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa following the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus, the country’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced on Monday. Travelers who have recently resided or passed through these countries will not be able to enter Tunisia. The suspension takes effect Monday and will last until further notice, the ministry said in a statement.
Turkey
Turkey has banned flights from the United Kingdom, South Africa, the Netherlands and Denmark, the country’s state agency Anadolu reported late Sunday.
COUNTRIES THAT IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS
Ecuador
President Lenin Moreno announced that visitors from the UK, Australia, South Africa and the EU must show negative PCR test results taken 10 days before arriving in the country. They must also perform an antibody test that will be provided to them at international airports.
Greece
Greece will impose a seven-day quarantine on all travelers arriving from the UK from Monday, the Greek Civil Protection department announced on Sunday.
Portugal
Portugal has imposed restrictions on flights from the UK. Only Portuguese citizens will be able to travel, and they must have a negative Covid-19 test, according to the country’s interior minister.
Spain
Spain announced that it is beefing up airports to verify PCR testing for people arriving from the UK, according to a government tweet on Sunday.
CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen, Mitchell McCluskey, Larry Register and Jaide Timm-Garcia contributed to this report.
