UAE students in UK ‘strongly’ urged to stay put as government plans new traveller testing

Cabinet minister Michael Gove warns against travel and advises people to remain where they are

A pedestrian shelters from the rain as they walk across an almost deserted Piccadilly Circus in London as Britain enters a national lockdown. AFP

A general view of a deserted Regent Street in London. AFP

People ride on quiet escalators at Waterloo underground station in London. Reuters

A worker sweeps a pavement at the Bank Junction in London. Reuters

An empty underground train in London. Reuters

People walk over a quiet London Bridge. Reuters

Workers paint social distancing signs at Eel Brook Common in Fulham, London. Reuters

A pedestrian walks past a closed down Coffee-shop on an almost deserted street in Liverpool. AFP

Pedestrians walk through central Glasgow. AFP

Empty streets in Glasgow. Scotland is to impose a nationwide coronavirus lockdown for the rest of January because of a surge in cases. AFP

A view of the deserted High Street in St Albans. Reuters

A police car patrols in central Manchester. AFP

A pedestrian walks on an empty street in central Manchester. AFP

UAE students have dropped plans to return for the new university term in the UK after ministers 'strongly' urged those already over there not to return home.

The UK has entered its third lockdown as Covid-19 cases spiral.

One 20-year-old Dubai student had been tested in the UAE ahead of flying back to the UK to complete her final year studying an accountancy and finance degree at Leeds University, in the north of England.

"I was preparing to travel back, I got tested and as I was about to book my flight back on Monday until I heard about the announcement," she told The National.

"I'm now going to stay in Dubai, at least until after my exams. It would have been nicer to know before Monday what was happening but I understand the situation keeps changing very fast. I'm just thankful this did not happened after I had arrived back at university."

The UK is now considering an international travel ban as a highly transmissable new strain of Covid-19 sweeps the country, and Cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Tuesday that overseas students should stay where they are.

Many who travelled home for the festive period were due to fly back to the UK this week to recommence their studies but they have now been urged not to travel.

"At the moment the strong advice for individuals is to stay where they are," Mr Gove said.

Leeds University said: "In response to the rise in Covid-19 cases across the UK over the Christmas holidays, the government has changed its guidance on the phased return of students for the spring term.

"Except for a small number of courses, students should not return to university until further notice."

It is a situation reflected across the country and students are angry at the short notice.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had urged all primary school pupils to return to school on Monday morning but in his address to the nation hours later he ordered all schools to close.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove said discussions are taking place over the implementation of an international travel ban. AFP / Tolga Akmen

Mr Gove said GCSE and A-Level exams would be cancelled with an announcement made by the education secretary in due course. "We will be putting in place alternative arrangements," he said.

The exams watchdog Ofqual tweeted: “We know how difficult this must be for students, teachers and lecturers.

"We wish at all costs to avoid arrangements for this summer’s GCSEs, A-Levels and VTQs inflicting further disadvantage on students.

“We are considering a number of options to ensure the fairest possible outcome in the circumstances. We will update as soon as we can."

Mr Gove said the UK could impose new restrictions on international travel. Quarantine is compulsory for those arriving from many countries but Covid-19 testing is not.

Having discussed the issue with the leaders of the other UK nations, Mr Gove said: "We will be coming forward very shortly with new proposals."

Under plans being considered by the government, travellers arriving from overseas will have to show a negative Covid-19 test before they're allowed to enter the country.

Naomi Carpenter, a 20-year-old sports rehab student at Hull University, takes a swab for a lateral flow Covid-19 test at the campus sports facilities. AFP

People will be required to demonstrate a negative result from no more than 72 hours before their departure. Measures could become even tighter and include another test on arrival.

Mr Gove said: "We are looking at further options to restrict international travel. But the message is very, very clear for UK citizens that they should not be travelling."

He was unable to say precisely when the lockdown, scheduled to last six weeks, would be lifted, warning of "very, very difficult weeks" ahead.

The measures will be reviewed from February 15, he said, but the government cannot "predict with certainty" when they will be eased.

"I think it is right to say that as we enter March we should be able to lift some of these restrictions but not necessarily all," he said.

The new measures began in England on Tuesday morning and will become law in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also bringing in strict lockdowns, including school closures.

The latest lockdown for England comes as the new strain of coronavirus threatens to overwhelm hospitals, despite the distribution of two vaccines, including the UK's own Oxford University/AstraZeneca drug. More than one million people in the UK have been immunised.

A total of 58,784 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK on Monday, with cases in the last seven days up 50 per cent on the previous week.

Britain has been among the worst hit countries in the world, with about 2.7 million cases and 75,431 deaths recorded.