Negative COVID-19 test required for travel to England from Monday

From Monday, January 18, the United Kingdom is suspending its travel corridors, which allowed free travel from states on the UK's "safe" list into the country.

While the Czech Republic was not on the latest edition of the UK's travel corridors list, UK citizens returning from the Czech Republic and all other travelers heading into the UK should be aware of new regulations coming into effect from tomorrow.

From January 18, all travelers entering the UK will now need to isolate for 10 days, regardless of their country of origin.

In addition, all travelers entering England (other UK states have separate regulations) will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. For those entering England by plane, the test must be provided prior to boarding.

There are a few exemptions to the requirement for the advance COVID-19 test, including children under 11, those who cannot test for medical purposes, and a select number of jobs. A full list or exemptions can be found at the UK government website.

Note that the test must be performed within three days before travel, meet certain accuracy requirements (a PCR test is acceptable), and contain certain information including the provider's contact; full details can be found here.

The test must also be provided in English, Spanish, or French. If travelling from the Czech Republic, ensure that your facility is able to provide you with English-language results.

Those who don't provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel to England may be denied boarding or fined £500 upon entry.

For further details, please consult the official website of the UK government and Department for Transport.