Arrivals to China banned from England without negative Covid test from January 5, confirms No 10

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All travelers from China to England will be required to present a negative Covid-19 test before departure from January 5, Downing Street has confirmed.

No Number 10 said Rishi Sunak's government would shortly set out full details of the new rules for travelers entering the UK from China and from Hong Kong.

The door - Prime Minister's official spokesperson said: "We are working on the final details of the implementation of the policy, and this includes in Hong Kong, and will update in due course."

However , Transport Secretary Mark Harper confirmed earlier that arrivals from China who test positive for Covid after arriving in the UK will not be required to quarantine or self-isolate.

< p>Comments from senior Tory MP confirmed details - first revealed by The Independent- that testing will be voluntary for those arriving at Heathrow - the only UK airport with direct flights from China offering testing.

Mr Harper, asked if those who test positive after arriving in the UK will need to quarantine, LBC told LBC: "No, because what we do is we collect this information for surveillance purposes." p>

The transport secretary said the voluntary tests to collect data were needed 'because the Chinese government is not sharing with the international community.

No 10 spokesperson said the government was in discussions with Chinese officials regarding the new policy, but was not yet aware of any "meaningful improvement" in information sharing at this stage.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay announced earlier this week that passengers traveling from China to England from Thursday will have to pass a Covid test before boarding a plane. A negative test must be taken two days before departure.

The government will also carry out surveillance tests on a sample of passengers from China arriving in the UK to try to detect new variants of the virus who could pose a threat.

But The Independent has learned that Chinese travelers can simply decline the invitation to get tested on arrival and leave the airport. ..