Amid concern over a new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa, six countries have been added to the UK’s travel red list, in effect from noon today (November 26).

Portugal has also heightened its entry restrictions. From December 1, all arrivals must show evidence of a negative Covid-19 test, regardless of vaccination status.

The reintroduction of the red list comes just 25 days after the UK removed all countries from the hotel quarantine category.

Here is everything you need to know about the red list, the new travel restrictions, and how the new variant could affect your next holiday.

What are the new travel rules?

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho have all been added to the red list, and from 12pm today flights from these countries to the UK have been banned.

This means that anyone arriving from these countries from 4am on Sunday will have to spend 10 days in a hotel quarantine on their return to the UK, and will face a £10,000 penalty if they flout the rules. 

Those who arrive back from these countries before 4am on Sunday (via another country), or who have arrived back from South Africa in the last 10 days, will need to quarantine at home for 10 days.

Have any other countries imposed new rules?

Yes. Portugal has reimposed restrictions, meaning anyone who arrives into the country must show a negative test certificate on arrival. This will come into effect from December 1.

It is understood that the European Union will propose banning flights from South Africa due to the variant of concern.

Are countries reintroducing lockdowns?

Yes. A fourth wave of Covid-19 has prompted further clampdowns across the Continent. Austria has entered a national lockdown amid a rise in Covid-19 cases. The Netherlands has imposed an 8pm curfew on restaurants and bars, while Slovakia, Germany and Czech Republic are among the countries to clamp down on freedoms for unvaccinated visitors and residents. 

Could any other countries be added to the UK’s red list?

It is possible. Israel has just confirmed it has identified a case of the new Covid-19 variant. The health ministry said the “variant discovered in southern African states has been identified in Israel” and was recorded “in a person who had returned from Malawi”, with “two more cases of people returning from abroad” placed in quarantine. Hong Kong has also detected two cases of the new variant.

I am in South Africa, what should I do?

If you are in South Africa or one of the affected countries, your priority should be to arrive home before 4am on Sunday when the hotel quarantine imposition comes into force. Quarantine hotel costs £2,285 for an adult and £1,430 for an additional adult in the same room or children over 12. If you do manage to arrive home before then, you will need to quarantine at home for 10 days.

While direct flights to the UK will stop operating at noon today, you will be able to fly to another hub and then back from there. These options are severely limited, however. KLM has a flight at 11.55pm this evening from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, currently costing £1,445.

It is worth contacting your travel insurer to check their Covid-19 policies, and to see if you could be eligible for support if you are stranded in a southern African country.

I have a holiday booked to South Africa, what should I do?

If you are booked to travel to South Africa or any of the affected countries with an Atol-protected tour operator, your trip will be cancelled and you will be due a refund. Wait for the company to cancel your trip, rather than cancelling unilaterally, or you may not be eligible for a refund.

If you have booked flights independently to South Africa or one of the affected countries, these will be cancelled and your airline will offer a refund or a rebooking option. Contact your airline direct for your options. Do not cancel your flights, or you may not be eligible for a refund.

If you have booked accommodation direct, check its Covid cancellation policy to see if you are eligible for a refund, and contact them direct immediately to explain your situation.

I am nervous about my winter holiday, what can I do?

If you have booked a winter holiday, you may be feeling nervous about what the reintroduction of the red list and the new South African variant could mean for your getaway. However, it is very early days and there is very little knowledge about the Nu variant; this could be a false alarm.

If you do decide to change holiday plans, you should contact your holiday company, accommodation or airline provider direct to see if you can rebook. There will be no obligation for any company to issue a refund due to holiday nerves, but you can contact them to ask if this is an option. Do not cancel unilaterally, or you will not receive a refund.

Have your holiday plans been affected by the new travel restrictions? Comment below to let us know.