The Department for Transport has announced the decision to ban travel to the UK from 16 countries including South (and Central) American destinations, Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde following the spread of a new strain of coronavirus (COVID–19) initially identified in Brazil. The new travel restriction will apply from 4am Friday 15 January 2021. British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK who arrive in the UK past 4am from these destinations, or have transited through them in the last ten days, are required to immediately self-isolate along with their household.