UK travel restrictions: Are Greece and Turkey on the quarantine list?

4 years ago 296

By Eleanor Lawrie
BBC News

Published2 minutes ago

image copyrightGetty Images

image captionTurkey is currently not on the quarantine list

People planning trips abroad face uncertainty, with the possibility of new countries being added to the UK's quarantine list.

Holidaymakers arriving from places like Spain, France and Croatia already have to self-isolate for two weeks after arriving in the UK.

How does the government decide which countries go on the quarantine list?

The decision is generally triggered when 20 or more people out of every 100,000 in a country are infected over seven days. Other factors are also considered.

The

Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBS) - set up by the government to monitor coronavirus - advises which countries should be on the quarantine list, and which should be exempt.

an estimate of the proportion of the population that is currently infectioustrends in the number of cases and deathstransmission statusinformation on a country's testing capacity

Will Greece and Turkey go on the quarantine list?

There have been concerns about coronavirus rates in both Greece and Turkey, but the UK government has not said whether it plans any changes.

As of 26 August, Greece had a seven-day average infection rate of 14.1 cases per 100,000 people, while Turkey's was 11.4.

This puts them below the quarantine threshold of 20 cases, but the government also considers the other factors set out above.

Which countries are on the quarantine list?

In recent weeks, the government in England has announced any changes to the quarantine list on Thursdays. These have come into force the following Saturday at 4am.

Quarantine restrictions have been applied to several countries:

22 August - Croatia, Austria, Trinidad and Tobago (plus Switzerland for travellers to Scotland)15 August - France, Netherlands, Malta, Monaco, Turks & Caicos, Aruba 8 August - Belgium, Andorra, Bahamas 31 July - Luxembourg27 July - Spain

However, a sustained fall in cases has seen Portugal added to the dozens of ''air bridge'' countries UK travellers can visit without having to quarantine on their return.

Where can I go without quarantining when I get back?

Travellers from countries that pose a "reduced risk" from coronavirus - in the government's eyes - are exempt.

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, BES Islands, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau, Mauritius, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, San Marino, Seychelles, South Korea, St Barthélemy, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, Slovakia, Slovenia, St Vincent and the Grenadine, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Vatican City, Vietnam

Those entering the UK from the common travel area - the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man - are exempt, as are the 14 British Overseas Territories.

image copyrightGetty Images

image captionTravellers re-entering the UK from Greece currently do not have to quarantine

Health measures like quarantine are set by each UK nation separately.

Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced quarantine exemptions for the same countries as England.

Which other countries are not on the list?

People entering the UK from most countries have to quarantine.

You must isolate for 14 days if you arrive in the UK from Canada, the US, much of Central and South America, and some countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Travellers from Sweden, Russia and anywhere else not on the list also have to quarantine.

Further restrictions may also be placed on UK travellers if its infection rate rises.

media captionQuarantine: How do I self-isolate coming back from abroad?

What about restrictions at my destination?

Travellers leaving the UK could still face restrictions - including quarantine - when they arrive in one of the exempted countries.

About half the countries and territories on the list have restrictions for arriving UK visitors. These include:

New Zealand has barred almost all foreign travellersAustralia requires an exemption visa if you are not a resident or a citizen and everyone entering needs to quarantine for 14 daysSouth Korea requires all arrivals to be tested and to isolate for 14 daysAdult visitors to Iceland can either quarantine for 14 days or pay for a test on arrival, and quarantine until they take a free second test 5-6 days laterAnyone who has been in the UK in the previous 14 days is not currently allowed to enter Japan
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