4 years ago
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By Eleanor Lawrie
BBC News
Published1 day ago
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People planning trips abroad face uncertainty, with the possibility of new countries being added to the UK's quarantine list.
Travellers from Czech Republic, Jamaica and Switzerland are the latest additions, with arrivals from those countries now required to self-isolate for two weeks.
There are concerns Portugal could be put back on the quarantine list after its rate of cases increased.
How does the government decide which countries go on the quarantine list?
The decision is generally made 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.
Can I still go on holiday to Portugal or Greece?
Portugal has recently seen coronavirus cases return to more than 20 per 100,000 people, one of the key triggers for a UK quarantine to be imposed.
As of 31 August it had 21.1 cases per 100,000 people. It was taken off the quarantine list as recently as 22 August.
There have also been concern about whether quarantine could be introduced for other countries.
While Greece saw an increase in cases in recent weeks, this has stabilised with a rate of 13.7. Turkey's rate crept up slightly to 12.6.
Which countries are now on the quarantine list?
In recent weeks, the government in England has announced changes to the quarantine list on Thursdays. These have come into force the following Saturday at 0400.
Quarantine restrictions have been reapplied to several countries:
In August, Cuba and Portugal were added to the dozens of ''air bridge'' countries UK travellers can visit without having to quarantine on their return.
What about travelling to other countries?
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.
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, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, 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, 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.
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image captionTravellers re-entering the UK from Greece currently do not have to quarantineHealth measures like quarantine are set by each UK nation separately.
Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced quarantine exemptions for the same countries as England.
What if people don't quarantine?
Travellers not self-isolating when they are supposed to can be fined £1,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or £480 in Scotland.
They can be fined up to £3,200 in England if they do not provide accurate contact details, or £1,920 in Wales.
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:
