Travel experts have reacted strongly to nations being returned to the UK's red list following the emergence of the new B.1.1.52 variant of the Covid-19 virus.
Scientists have expressed concern about the number of mutations and the effectiveness of protection offered by vaccination or previous infection.
Flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini are suspended for at least three weeks.
Arrivals from 4am on Sunday will be required to quarantine in a hotel, with those arriving before then required to quarantine at home and take PCR tests on day two and eight. Those who have arrived in the past 10 days are also being contacted and asked to take a PCR test.
Travel editor of Which? Rory Boland said: “This worrying news is a reminder that travel is not back to normal. The pandemic continues to disrupt passengers’ travel plans, often with very little notice.
“As all flights are being suspended to these countries, all passengers will be entitled to a full refund for the holiday or flight, so long as they booked with a UK or EU carrier, or with any carrier due to depart from the UK or EU.
"Getting a refund for accommodation can be more difficult, and is dependent on the policy of the property.
“We have seen restrictions change in several countries over recent days and refunds are not always guaranteed. It is vital that travellers choose holiday providers with good, flexible booking policies in case your trip can’t go ahead.”
Travel expert Paul Charles, founder of The PC Agency, tweeted: "Rather than blanket country measures and airline bans, governments should be assessing travellers based on individual risk, not treating everyone with the same old, unsuccessful policy of hotel quarantine at over £2000 per stay."
The Scottish government has also confirmed it was introducing hotel quarantine for passengers returning from affected countries from 4am on Saturday.
Currently, just 59 cases of the variant had been identified, in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, with none in the UK.
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