Uk Travel Quarantine: End Date And What's Next

The UK government's quarantine rules for travellers have changed several times since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, the government announced that most airline passengers flying into the UK would be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. This rule was initially set to be lifted on July 6, 2020, with exemptions for travellers from 60 to 75 countries, including most European countries. However, the UK continued to add countries to its red list for travel, with travellers from these countries being required to quarantine in designated hotels. As of April 2021, the UK government announced that international leisure travel could resume from May 17, but it is unclear if the hotel quarantine rule will be extended into the summer.

Quarantine rules for travellers to the UK have no end date but are reviewed every 3 weeks

The UK's quarantine rules for travellers have no confirmed end date, but will be reviewed every three weeks. This will be a blow to airline bosses, who believe their businesses will be crippled by the laws on almost everyone arriving in the UK, including returning UK citizens. The quarantine rules will also add a fifth test for anyone travelling abroad to meet, on top of the four tests already in place.

• Has lockdown been eased enough to allow you to reach the UK airport?
• Has the Foreign Office lifted its warning against all overseas travel?
• Is there an airline prepared to take you?
• Will the destination country let you in?
• Can you tolerate self-isolating on your return?

The quarantine rules will apply to almost everyone arriving from abroad at a UK airport, who will be told that they must self-isolate for two weeks under stringent conditions. There will be exemptions for travellers from the Republic of Ireland and possibly France. Flight crew, international transit passengers, freight drivers, and scientists working on the pandemic are also expected to be exempt.

The quarantine rules will be assessed on a "rolling" basis, with any changes being made in line with the latest scientific advice. The three-weekly reviews are likely to line up with the legal review of lockdown every three weeks.

The quarantine rules are expected to devastate the travel industry, which has already been hit hard by the pandemic. However, the rules are designed to "prevent re-infection from abroad" and will only be lifted when there is no remaining threat from visitors and returning UK citizens.

Travellers from the Republic of Ireland are exempt from quarantine

The UK government announced that, from 8 June 2020, anyone entering the UK from overseas would be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. However, travellers from the island of Ireland were exempt from this rule. This exemption was welcomed by Northern Ireland's First Minister, Arlene Foster, who described it as a "generous move by the UK government".

The exemption for travellers from Ireland was part of the Common Travel Area agreement between the UK and Ireland, which allowed people to travel freely between the two countries without having to isolate. This agreement also included other territories, such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as the 14 British Overseas Territories.

While the UK initially imposed quarantine restrictions on travellers from most countries, there were discussions about creating "air bridges" or "travel corridors" with certain countries, which would allow people to travel without having to self-isolate. These air bridges were intended to slowly ease quarantine restrictions and were expected to include countries like Spain, France, and Greece.

However, the plan for air bridges was reportedly shelved in favour of a more sweeping relaxation of the rules. On 6 July 2020, the UK government announced that travellers from 59 countries would be exempt from the 14-day quarantine rule, including popular tourist destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. This relaxation of rules applied to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with Scotland drawing up its own list of exempt countries.

Despite the exemption for travellers from Ireland to the UK, the Republic of Ireland had its own quarantine rules and restrictions in place. In July 2020, the Irish government published a "green list" of 15 countries that were exempt from quarantine requirements upon arrival in Ireland. These countries included Greece, Italy, Norway, and Finland. Notably, the UK was not included on this list due to its higher number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.

The UK quarantine could be scrapped from 6 July

However, this plan has now been shelved in favour of a sweeping relaxation of the rules that would apply to most European countries, as well as several long-haul destinations. As many as 75 countries could become exempt from the rules, including almost every EU nation, meaning holidays to popular destinations such as Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece could be back on the cards. Outside the EU, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand are also expected to be on the list.

The new rules are expected to come into force from Monday 6 July, allowing millions of British people to go on summer holidays after months of uncertainty. However, it is important to note that just because a country is on the list does not mean it will welcome travellers from the UK. For example, Greece has banned all inbound flights from the UK until 15 July.

The decision to relax the rules is based on a country displaying a relatively low infection rate and no sign of a sustained increase in cases. The list has been drawn up by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, which has been advising the government during the coronavirus pandemic.

While the UK quarantine could be scrapped from 6 July, it is worth noting that the government has missed multiple deadlines for planned announcements, and Downing Street has played down the reports ahead of the official announcement.

Tourists can shorten quarantine to 5 days if they pay for a test

The UK government has announced that tourists can shorten their quarantine period to 5 days by paying for a COVID-19 test. This change in quarantine rules, effective from December 15, has been welcomed by the travel industry, which has been one of the worst-hit sectors during the pandemic. The new rules allow passengers to reduce the mandatory 14-day quarantine by paying for a test from a private firm on or after the 5th day of their arrival, at a cost of around £100 ($133). Results from these tests typically take up to 48 hours but can sometimes be available the same day.

This change in policy brings England's travel rules in line with other European countries, including Germany. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps commented that the new testing strategy will allow people to "travel more freely, see loved ones and drive international business". The change is expected to support the travel industry as it recovers from the pandemic.

The UK's travel advice for Spain and France, the two most-visited countries, has changed with very little notice, causing travellers to cut their vacations short and return to the UK to avoid mandatory quarantines. This has caused turmoil for the vacation plans of many British families and has rocked the travel industry.

The UK's quarantine rules have had a significant impact on the travel industry, with airline bosses expressing concern about the lack of an end date for these measures. The rules have also led to cancellations and disruptions for British holidaymakers, affecting the plans of millions. The introduction of a shorter quarantine period with testing provides some relief for the industry and travellers alike.

While the new testing scheme makes overseas travel more attractive and manageable, it is important to note that this change does not apply to travellers arriving from other parts of the United Kingdom. Travellers from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales must still adhere to the 14-day self-isolation requirement.

The quarantine rules have been devastating for the travel industry

The quarantine rules have also thrown the vacation plans of many British families into turmoil. The government's sudden changes to the travel advice for Spain and France, the two most-visited countries, have forced many travellers to cut their vacations short and quickly return to the UK to avoid mandatory quarantines. This has resulted in travel firms facing a wave of cancellations and the prospect of financial ruin. Some companies have chosen to cancel trips and refund customers, while others have decided to continue operating, hoping that the government will remove the restriction and allow them to function in the peak summer months.

The lack of clarity around quarantine rules and the constant changes have made it difficult for the travel industry to plan and recover. The rolling reviews of the quarantine rules every three weeks have created uncertainty for both holidaymakers and travel businesses. The impact has been felt across the industry, from airlines to hotels, tour operators, and campsites. London City Airport, for example, has announced plans to cut up to 35% of its staff due to the expected weaker winter season.

The travel industry has been one of the worst-hit sectors during the pandemic, and the quarantine rules have only exacerbated the challenges. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, has welcomed the announcement of a shorter quarantine period as "light at the end of the tunnel" for the aviation industry. The changes bring England's rules more in line with other European countries, making travel more feasible for holidaymakers and business travellers.

While the quarantine rules have been necessary to control the spread of COVID-19, they have undoubtedly had a devastating impact on the travel industry. The lack of a firm end date and constant changes have made it difficult for the industry to recover, and the effects are likely to be long-lasting.

Frequently asked questions