The British Government Institutes Additional Measures for Travelers , Including those from Montserrat to the United Kingdom

Following a recent decision taken by the UK government that travelers to the UK, including those from Montserrat now require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, amid increasing instances of COVID-19 around the world, The British Government says it will establish the standard that tests must meet in regulations.

The British Government is now taking additional steps to add a further layer of protection to safeguard public health especially with the emergence of new variants of the virus.

This, it says, will include that the test must be of a diagnostic-standard test such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and could in some cases include lateral flow tests within set limits.

The UK says clear guidance and advice will be provided to passengers regarding testing standards and capacity.

The British Government says guidance will be available to passengers and carriers on what to look for to assure tests and the results provided meet the standards required.

The UK says test standards and innovative testing technologies will be kept under review.

The British government says it will also set out the information passengers will need to have with them at check-in and the UK border to show they have had a qualifying negative test. This will include set data fields which test result certificates must include.

All information on test requirements will be made available to passengers and transport operators through guidance on GOV.UK.

The current advice for those across the UK remains that one must stay at home and not travel abroad unless it is for a permitted exempt reason.

The latest requirements apply equally to visitors from other states and British Nationals, including those from Montserrat, and carriers may deny boarding if passengers are not in receipt of a qualifying negative test.

British Nationals who need consular assistance are asked to contact the nearest consulate, embassy or high commission.

If passengers were to arrive in England without a pre-departure negative test result, they would be fined.

The UK says it will amend the International Travel Regulations so that fines, starting at £500, can be levied on non-compliant passengers.

Operators will also be fined for transporting non-compliant passengers.

Passengers travelling to England from the Common Travel Area (the United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey), will not be in scope of the regulations.

Children under the age of 11 will also not be required to complete pre-departure testing.