Spain extends travel ban for UK flyers due to mutant coronavirus strain

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Spain has extended its UK travel ban until February, it has been announced.

It comes after the country stopped flights in December when the new coronavirus strain was detected.

While some destinations closed its borders, others suspended flights to UK holidaymakers wanting to enter.

Meanwhile Spain initially banned non-essential travel into the country until January before extending it to January 19.

Now the country has changed it again to February 2 after concerns over a new Covid strain from Brazil has rocked the world.

But with cases soaring across the UK, it is likely Spain could extend its travel ban once again.

The Spanish government said that they had extended it again due to "some uncertainties over the reach of the new strain".

In a statement, the government added: "The epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom has progressively worsened."

They also warned that there were increasing cases in Spain linked to the new mutant strain.

Brits are currently not allowed to go on holiday as the UK lockdown has banned non-essential travel.

However, Spain has not closed its borders altogether with Spanish residents still able to return from the UK.

But new travel restrictions will require a negative coronavirus test on arrival to Spain.

Also travellers will need one to enter the UK along with a mandatory quarantine.

Airlines and tour operators have been forced to cancel flights and holidays in light of the new strain which is spreading faster.

Earlier this week, the UAE was removed from the UK's travel corridor meaning Brits returning from Dubai must self-isolate for 10 days.

It is believed that there has been a "significant acceleration" in Covid cases being brought back to the UK from Dubai.

The new self-isolation period will apply to those arriving in England Northern Ireland and Wales.

Scotland already had a self-isolation requirement for those arriving from the UAE and this will remain in place.

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