Coronavirus in Scotland: Quarantine rules lifted for travel to Spain

4 years ago 271
Spanish beachImage copyright PA Media Image caption The move opens the way for Scots to go on holiday to Spain, and vice versa

People who travel to Scotland from Spain will no longer have to go into quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

The change, coming in later this week, was sanctioned after a review of infection rates in mainland Spain and the Spanish islands.

The move opens the path for Scots to go on holiday in Spain, and for Spaniards to travel to Scotland.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said further countries could yet be added to the list of "air bridge" destinations.

But he warned that Covid-19 was "still active and still deadly" and added that further changes would only be made when it was "safe to do so".

People who travel into the UK from abroad are required to go into quarantine for two weeks on arrival, or risk a fine.

However, a list of countries around Europe and the globe have been made exempt from this, creating "air bridges" to allow people to travel more freely.

The Scottish government - which has control over public health measures north of the border - initially did not include Spain on its list of countries exempt from self-isolation requirements, citing concerns about the prevalence of coronavirus there.

A "thorough review" has now been conducted and means Spain and its islands will be added to the list later in the week.

Mr Yousaf said: "Following this latest review and having carefully considered the potential public health impact of changing the country exemptions for quarantine, we are able to lift that requirement for those travelling from Spain. We are continuously keeping other countries under review and where there is clear evidence that it is safe to do so, we will add further countries

"Clearly the virus has not gone away. It is still active and it is still deadly. With the quarantine restrictions being lifted from these countries this means we have to be even more careful about what we are doing.

"Anyone travelling should follow public health advice at all times including wearing face coverings, avoiding crowded places, washing hands and surfaces, staying two metres apart and self-isolating if they get symptoms and immediately registering for a test."

Where can I go without quarantining on return?

From Friday, travellers are exempt from quarantine rules when they arrive in Scotland from:

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, Réunion, San Marino, Seychelles, South Korea, Spain, St Barthélemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Vatican City, Vietnam.

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