Britain announces quarantine for some travelers

A view of Union Street, after bars, cafes and restaurants were ordered to close as lockdown restrictions were reimposed due to a coronavirus cluster in the area, in Aberdeen, Scotland, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. A five-mile travel rule has been put in place and residents are being told not to enter each other’s houses as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said over 50 cases have now been reported. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

LONDON — Britain has announced that travelers arriving from Andorra, Belgium, and the Bahamas will have to quarantine for two weeks effective from Saturday, following an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases in all three locations.

Officials said COVID-19 cases in Belgium have increased fourfold since mid-July, and that in Andorra new cases per week have increased five-fold over the same period. They added that the Bahamas also saw a significant increase in case rates.

Officials now said all travel to Belgium, Andorra, and the Bahamas should not go ahead unless they are essential trips.

Britain on Thursday also announced that it has added Brunei and Malaysia to its list of safe countries — meaning quarantine upon arrival from those locations is not required — following a decrease in confirmed cases there.