What you need to know before travelling to the UK

Travellers from Mauritius heading to the UK will now have to take a Covid test before their departure.

The tightened requirements would come into force from 04:00 GMT on Tuesday 7 December.

Everyone aged 12 and over will be required to take a pre-departure test a maximum of 48 hours before leaving.

All international arrivals are required to self-isolate and take a PCR test before or on Day 2 of their arrival and remain in self-isolation until they get a negative result.

If they get a positive result they must self-isolate for 10 days.

The moves come after pressure on the UK government to tighten the policy on overseas arrivals.

Airlines will be required to check for pre-departure tests alongside a completed passenger locator form, and passengers will not be allowed to board a flight without providing evidence of a negative test result.

Given the reduced incubation period of the Omicron variant, passengers are advised to take the pre-departure test as close as possible to their scheduled departure to the UK and no earlier than 48 hours before travelling.