UK citizens won't be allowed into most European Union states starting Jan. 1 after the Brexit transition period expires as a result of the pandemic, The Independent reported Friday.
Travelers from a limited number of regions with low COVID cases are allowed to visit EU countries for nonessential travel, the report said. Eight non-EU nations, including New Zealand, Australia and Singapore are on the list of "safe" third countries.
A British government spokesman said it can't comment on rulings that could be enforced by other states on matters of safety and public health.
British citizens with EU residency permits or with family members who are EU citizens are allowed to travel to the continent.
British politicians told the EU Thursday it should consider concessions to end the deadlock in Brexit trade negotiations by end of the weekend. Officials at Downing Street warned the divide between the two sides remained "very large."
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said 18 EU nations had higher cases of COVID compared with Britain.
"Pandemic restrictions will depend on what the EU decides but also member states - and we have already got challenges with that," reports quoted UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab saying.
Meanwhile, Clement Beaune, France's European Affairs junior minister, said British citizens may be required to secure visas for stays in the EU longer than three months after Jan. 1. He said that whatever happens Jan. 1 Britons will be in "a different universe."
Meanwhile, three in 10 Britons say they have no plans of traveling at all next year, according to YouGov.
The data was collected from nearly 17,000 people in 25 countries.
