MEXICO was this week slapped onto the Government's red list, along with Georgia and the French islands of La Reunion and Mayotte.
The Government confirmed a number of major changes to the travel lists which will kick in at 4am on Sunday August 8.
Why is Mexico on the red list?
Mexico was plunged on to the red list as health officials fear the rise of the new B.1.621 Covid variant in the country, first discovered in Colombia.
It has so far been found in Colombia, the US, and Spain, among a number of other countries.
There is no evidence to suggest that the strain causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines any less effective.
Where cases of the new variant have been detected, health officials have followed up and tested contacts.
If necessary PHE will deploy surge testing to limit the spread.
What is the infection rate in Mexico?
Coronavirus infections are increasing in Mexico, with 15,745 new infections reported on average each day.
That’s 90% of the peak — the highest daily average reported on January 21.
There have been 2,901,094 infections and 242,547 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.
Mexico has administered at least 68,825,948 doses of COVID vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 27% of the country’s population.
What are the restrictions for travelling to Mexico?
Holidaymakers and those with family abroad will now need to quarantine for ten days in a hotel on their return from the country.
And in a double bout of bad news, it will cost travellers nearly £500 more than it has done in the past for their quarantine stay after officials upped the cost tonight.
From August 12, it will cost £2,285 to return from Mexico for a single person and an additional £1,430 for a second adult in the room – up from £1750 per person.
The price for children ages five to 12 stays unchanged at £325.
Individual states in Mexico are imposing additional measures and restrictions.
The Mexican government has put into place a traffic light system to manage the easing of restrictions.
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