As it happened: Travel from South America to UK banned - BBC News
Arrivals from most of South America - and from Portugal - will be stopped from Friday.
A ban on travellers to the UK from South America has left one family fearing it could leave them stranded abroad for months.

The restriction comes into force at 04:00 GMT on Friday amid fears of a new Covid variant identified in Brazil.

British and Irish citizens and foreign nationals with residence rights will still be able to travel but must isolate for 10 days.

However many flights have now been cancelled.

Jon Den travelled to Brazil with his wife Carla, 32, in October so that her family - who live in Goiania - could meet their one-year-old daughter Luiza for the first time.

The couple, who live in Wolverhampton, are due to fly back to the UK on 6 February but Jon now fears they may be stuck out there for months due to the travel ban.

"We had planned to visit in February 2020 but we had to postpone because of the lockdown and that was rough on my wife, she suffered a lot," the 31-year-old says.

"Now I think my mum is suffering as she's expecting Luiza to be back, but who knows now?

"My initial reaction was worry because it's so unknown. The thought of not being able to return home and being stranded is not a nice feeling.

"I'm hoping British residents will be able to get home but I don't know if the government will organise flights. I think it's a long shot. I hope we can get home and not be stranded out here for months.

"We've got to be patient but at the same time flexible."