Passengers flying indirectly to Portugal from the UK or Brazil will need to present a negative test for COVID-19 performed 72 hours before the trip and will have to be quarantined for two weeks after arrival, Reuters reported.

The measure is valid as of Sunday, informed today Portugal’s interior ministry.

The objective is to close a gap that allowed travelers from the United Kingdom and Brazil to arrive in Portugal making a stopover in a country where travel was authorized.

Direct commercial or private flights to and from the UK and Brazil have been suspended since January to limit the spread of variants of the new coronavirus.

Direct humanitarian and repatriation flights will still be allowed, but passengers will have to present a negative test for the COVID-19, carried out 72 hours before the trip, and quarantine for 14 days.

The measures will be reviewed on March 16.