UK blocks entry of visitors from Somalia in new COVID-19 advisory

GOOBJOOG NEWS|UK: The UK has announced it will be locking out all visitors who have visited Somalia this month from entering England amid fears of imports of COVID-19.

The Foreign Office announced Tuesday it will not allow visitors who either entered or transited Somalia and Somaliland from March 19. “From 4 am on 19 March, visitors who have been in or transited through Somalia (including Somaliland) in the previous 10 days cannot enter England,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

UK nationals and those with residence rights will however be allowed in but must quarantine for 14 days in a hotel.

The Foreign Office also retained its earlier travel advisory for UK nationals to Somaliland and Somaliland for security concerns citing terrorism, maritime risks and kidnappings.

The latest restrictions on entry into England follows the spike in COVID-19 cases in Somalia which has in the last week seen an average of ten people succumb to the disease. The Ministry of Health announced 12 more deaths Monday and additional 138 cases out of 1,249 tests.

The government has not formally announced if the country is battling the second or the third phase of the disease. Neighbouring Kenya has however confirmed the third wave of the pandemic which has resulted in a rise of cases in the East African nation.

Meanwhile, Somalia received the first batch of 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine Monday from India in what is expected to boost the country’s war against COVID-19.