Travellers to Northern Ireland must test negative for Covid19 before arrival

By Q Radio News

International travellers will be required to present a negative Covid test  before arriving in Northern Ireland, from this Thursday.

The Department of Health says passengers will have to show proof of a test taken within the 72-hour period before departure.

Travel operators could be hit with fines of up to £10,000 if they allow the rule to be broken while passengers will also be subject to a fine, starting at £500.

Meanwhile everyone arriving in the UK from abroad must now self-isolate as the government order shutting all travel corridors comes into effect.

The tighter restrictions, intended to protect against the spread of coronavirus variants, were announced last week by Boris Johnson.

On arrival, they must isolate for 10 days - but can take another test after five days to end quarantine early.

The new rules will be backed by more spot checks to ensure people are remaining in isolation, but it's still permitted to use public transport to get from an airport to home.

The isolation period also applies to UK nationals returning home, but travel from Ireland is exempt.

People arriving from many countries with low infection rates were previously listed on the government's travel corridor list and did not need to isolate.

It comes amid concerns over two more COVID-19 variants identified in Brazil that have already prompted the government to ban all travel from South America and Portugal.

Scientists believe the vaccines being deployed in the UK will offer protection against the variants, but Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it was a matter of "to what degree".