Brits advised not to go abroad for 30 days over coronavirus outbreak
2 min read
Brits are being advised by the Government not to go abroad for 30 days to help contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said all non-essential trips should be put on hold as the world attempts to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he told MPs this was also owing to the fact many countries are closing their borders and people may not be able to return home.
Mr Raab said: “This decision has been taken based on the domestic measures introduced in the UK alongside the changes to border and a range of other restrictions which are now being taken right around the world.
"The speed and the range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented, some of those decisions are being made without notice.
"In some countries, even in countries or particular areas where there haven't yet been any reported cases of Covid-19 local authorities are nonetheless imposing restrictions on movement and again doing so with little or sometimes no notice."
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office said the advice comes in immediately and will be in place for an initial period of 30 days, leaving open the possibility it may be extended if needed.
A statement from the department said: “This change in travel advice reflects the pace at which other countries are either closing their borders or implementing restrictive measures in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.
“Often there is little or no notice when countries take these steps and restrictions are also being imposed in areas where no cases of coronavirus have yet been reported.
“They are therefore very difficult to predict.”
It added that Brits who decide they still need to travel abroad “should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so” with regards to being able to come back.
For those already overseas, the Government is not currently advising them to immediately return, but said they “should keep in mind that flights may be cancelled at short notice or other travel restrictions may be put in place by foreign governments”.
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