Travel from the Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh is to be banned from next week, the government says. They are being added to England’s “red list” amid concerns about the spread of new Covid-19 variants. From 04:00 on 9 April, international visitors who have travelled from or through those countries in the previous 10 days will be refused entry. An exception is made for British or Irish passport holders, or people with UK residence rights. But they must first pay to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days. During their stay, passengers will have to take two coronavirus tests – but a negative test result does not mean they can shorten their time in quarantine. Neither will they be able to end it early through the Test to Release scheme, where travellers from non-red list countries can leave home isolation after a negative test on day five.The Department for Transport (DfT) said information about exemptions for nurses arriving from the Philippines “who are critical to supporting the NHS during Covid and the recovery” would be set out before Friday.(BBC)…[+]