The government has extended measures to prevent the potential spread of a variant strain of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The government implemented immigration powers which meant all non-British national or resident travellers who had been in or through Denmark in the last 14 days will now be denied entry upon arrival.

Non-UK resident HGV drivers have now been added to those restrictions, while all passenger vessels and accompanied freight from Denmark will be halted.

The move follows the release of further information from health authorities in Denmark reporting widespread outbreaks of coronavirus in mink farms, with a variant strain of the virus spreading to some local communities.

Denmark was removed from the UK’s travel corridors list list on Friday. Non-British or resident visitors who had come from or through Denmark were banned from arriving in the UK from 4am on Saturday. Anyone who has arrived within the last 2 weeks now needs to self-isolate along with their households for 14 days.

Given the significant unknowns regarding the new mutation of COVID-19 originating in Denmark we have moved quickly to protect our citizens and prevent the spread of the virus to the UK.

The UK government is working closely with international partners to understand the changes in the virus that have been reported in Denmark and we are conducting a programme of further research here in the UK to inform our risk assessments.

British Nationals and residents who are returning from Denmark will be required to show a complete passenger locator form on arrival into the UK. This is critical in being able to track the virus in case of any local outbreaks.

The Home Office announced they would step up Border Force presence to ensure that those arriving to the UK from Denmark were compliant with the new restrictions.

The travel ban and expanded self-isolation requirements will be reviewed after 7days.