Matt Hancock thanked the Labour MP for her video work (Image: Sky News)
Mr Hancock used the opportunity to give praise to Ms Abbott.
He said: “I don’t say this lightly, but I agree with every single word that the right honourable lady said and I want to pay tribute to her.
“Because I haven’t had the chance in the house to thank all members of the house who took part in the incredibly moving video from black MPs in order to persuade people who may have understandable concerns that taking the jab is the right thing to do.
Ms Patel suggested the travel ban should be introduced until the hotel quarantine system has had time to be rolled out, according to insiders.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is also understood to be in favour of tougher travel restrictions, such as closing the UK borders, to prevent the new strains from being imported into the UK.
But the Prime Minister has rejected the calls from the two leading ministers in a crunch meeting of the Government s Covid operations committee last night, according to The Times.
Instead, Mr Johnson is expected to announce a mandatory quarantine hotel stay for UK arrivals returning from 30 high-risk countries, including South America, Brazil and Portugal.
By Contributor - January 18, 2021
Quarantine-free entry for arrivals from low-risk countries has just been scrapped to keep out new variants of Covid-19.
London’s urban sprawl and the River Thames seen from on high. (Photo: Johannes Plenio/Unsplash)
Thanks to the suspension of the United Kingdom’s “travel corridors,” residents of 16 Asian jurisdictions including Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam will no longer enjoy quarantine-free access to the country as of today (January 18).
Anyone who enters England must now carry proof of a negative result for coronavirus from a nucleic acid or antigen test taken within three days of departure; those who fail to present a medical certificate may not be able to board their flights and could be fined £500 (US$679) upon arrival. All incoming travelers are also required to self-isolate for 10 days.
New Covid strain: UAE-UK travellers issued fresh guidelines
Web report/Dubai
Photo: Reuters
The advisory noted that travellers must check specific requirements with their airline before travel.
The UK has updated its travel guidelines for passengers flying out of the UAE to England or Scotland.
According to the advisory on its official website, from 4am on January 15, those intending to travel to Scotland, and from 4am on January 18, those intending to travel to England (including UK nationals returning home from travel abroad), must provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test result taken up to 72 hours before departure. If you do not comply (and you do not have a valid exemption) your airline or carrier may refuse you boarding and/or you may be fined on arrival, it said. All other current entry requirements and restrictions continue to apply.