UK Extends England Entry Ban to Travelers From 11 African Countries for COVID Variant

Passengers sit beneath a testing centre sign in the terminal building of Manchester Airport amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manchester, Britain, Dec. 3, 2020. Phil Noble/Reuters File Photo

The United Kingdom said on Thursday it would extend a ban on travelers entering England to southern African countries in a measure to prevent the spread of a new COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa.

The restriction will go into effect on Saturday and remain in place for two weeks, the government said in a statement.