England has expanded its COVID-19 travel ban, adding four countries to its “red list” to prevent new variants of the CCP virus from entering the country. From 0300 GMT on Apr. 9, international visitors who have departed from or transited through the Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya, and Bangladesh in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) announced on Friday. England’s “red list” already includes over 30 countries in southern Africa, South America, and the Middle East. The additional restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of new variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus—such as those first identified in South Africa and Brazil—entering the country, DfT said. Scientists are concerned that these new variants may be more transmissible and more resistant to antibodies, and could reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. British and Irish citizens, or those with long-term residence rights …