Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) announced on Monday new restrictions for travellers arriving from the U.K. and South Africa due to a new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus found in the two countries.
Inslee said his new orders would require a 14-day quarantine for all travellers from the U.K. and South Africa, the Associated Press reports, stopping short of banning travel from these counties as many other governments around the world have.
The quarantine is required and legally enforceable, but Inslee stated no one would be taken into custody if they did not abide.
“We have found that when we have put legally binding requirements in the state, we have had incredible levels of compliance,” said Inslee.
The new strain of the coronavirus, though more contagious, has not been found to cause more severe cases of COVID-19 when contracted.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson enacted new lockdown measure in areas of London and surrounding areas, the AP reports. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the new strain is “out of control” in these areas specifically.
The list of countries that have banned some or all travel from the U.K. has quickly grown since news of the new strain broke. The countries include: Argentina, France, Canada, Ireland, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Estonia, Poland, Norway, Turkey and Latvia.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) voiced his support for federal restrictions on travel from the U.K. to the U.S. on Monday saying, “Why don’t we mandate testing before people get on the flight or halt the flights from the U.K. now? Many other countries have done this.”
The White House is reportedly considering requiring a negative coronavirus test from U.K. travellers before they arrive to the U.S.