Travel restrictions set, tweaked amid new virus variants

Countries around the world have been introducing new restrictions, and tweaking existing ones, on travel from Britain and elsewhere amid concerns about new coronavirus variants.

The restrictions focus mainly on the U.K., which imposed strict new lockdown measures over the weekend because of what it described as the unusually rapid spread of a new variant there. A few other European countries have confirmed cases of the variant, and another variant considered especially infectious has been identified in South Africa.

After a rush of uncoordinated travel restrictions European Union member states independently imposed since Saturday night, the European Commission said Tuesday people returning from the U.K. should be able to do so provided they test negative for the virus, or quarantine. It said that “cargo flows need to continue uninterrupted.”

Here is a look at restrictions currently in place:

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EUROPE

France: Will start allowing EU citizens and British nationals with EU residency back from the U.K. as of midnight Tuesday, after previously banning all passenger and cargo traffic from Britain. To enter France, returning passengers must present a negative PCR virus test from the last 72 hours. No decision has been made yet on cargo traffic, but French PM Jean Castex said a solution was expected “in the coming hours.”

Belgium: Will lift its blanket ban on passenger travel from the U.K at midnight Tuesday, to allow its nationals or people whose primary residence is in Belgium to return home. Passengers will have to fill in a travel locator form and go into 7-day quarantine. Transit passengers from the U.K. en route to a non-EU country will also be allowed as of Wednesday to pass through, but not to stay in Belgium.

Germany: Will ban at midnight Tuesday through...