Everyone travelling to the UK must have negative Covid test from FRIDAY

ANYONE entering the UK from this Friday – including Brits returning from holiday – will have to have a negative coronavirus test.

The new rules announced by the government last week are the latest restrictions being enforced as the UK reports record new cases and deaths.

More than 80,000 people have died from coronavirus, with confirmed cases hitting 3,000,000 in the UK.

Transport Minister Robert Courts confirmed that the new coronavirus rules will be in place from 4am on Friday.

He said: "Both globally and domestically we are seeing significant increases in levels of coronavirus, including the emergence of worrying new strains.

"It is therefore imperative that we ensure we are doing all we can to protect travel, reduce the risk of imported infections, including from new variants, and protect our NHS while national lockdown and vaccinations take effect.

"We already have strong safeguards in place, including a requirement for mandatory 10-day self-isolation for the vast majority of arrivals and our Travel Corridors system remains critical in managing the risk of imported cases from high-risk countries.

"However, as a result of increasing instances of COVID-19 around the world, including the emergence of new variants, we are now taking additional steps to add a further layer of protection to safeguard public health."

The new rules will require the test to be taken no more than 72 hours before leaving the destination.

The test will be checked when passengers check-in with their airline, train company or ferry before they travel, and those who refuse won’t be allowed to travel.

Anyone caught entering the UK without a negative test will face a £500 fine, and airlines will also be fined if they are caught not checking for negative test certificates.

It is estimated around 100,000 Brits are currently away in holiday hotspots such as Dubai and the Maldives who will have to find Covid tests overseas before being able to return home.

The new rules are likely to cause disruption abroad with desperate families forced to find negative coronavirus test providers, as well as cost hundreds of pounds.

It also means families face being trapped abroad in hotel rooms for two weeks if they test positive for Covid.

Destinations such as Spain, Italy and Dubai enforce a mandatory quarantine on anyone who tests positive for the virus.

Travel expert Alex Macheras told The Mail on Sunday: “People need to remember that if you test positive in a foreign country then they will be bound by their local laws and may have to quarantine for up to two weeks.”

Dubai, which has become popular with influencers and celebs in recent weeks, was placed onto the UK's quarantine list last night.

From today, anyone returning from the UAE will now have to quarantine back in the UK.

However, holidays are currently off the cards for Brits – under new lockdown rules in England, people are barred from travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary for work.

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