UK quarantine rules end today for travellers from over 50 countries
Quarantine rules amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic end today for people travelling to the UK from more than 70 countries and British Overseas Territories.
Those travelling from the exempted countries will no longer have to isolate for 14 days upon arrival, but they will still have to provide an address for where they intend to stay. Before today, the quarantine rules previously pertained to people arriving into the UK by air, sea or train, and also included UK nationals.
A total of 58 countries and 14 British Overseas Territories which are deemed “low risk” are exempt.
The list features a number of popular European holiday destinations, but countries that are not currently on the exemption list include the US, Canada, Portugal, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
Some of the countries on the exemption list are not allowing tourists.
The 58 countries which are now exempted from UK quarantine measures are:
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
- Croatia
- Curaçao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Polynesia
- Germany
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Reunion
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- South Korea
- Spain
- St Barthelemy
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Pierre and Miquelon
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Vatican City
- Vietnam
The changes come into force in England and Wales today.
Northern Ireland’s first minister said the switch would also hopefully take effect there on Friday, but this change will not take effect in Scotland at present.
The end of UK quarantine rules for many countries comes after the government announced on Thursday that beauty salons, tanning shops and tattooists can reopen in England from Monday, while gyms and indoor swimming pools are among the venues which will be allowed to let customers return later this month.
For more information on UK travel guidelines amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please refer to official gov.uk sources here.