The UK Government has updated it’s guidelines for arrivals from foreign countries and the associated 14 day self isolation requirement based on the current health situation in these countries.
Several countries like Singapore and Thailand have been dropped from the list where isolation is required but others like Slovenia have been put back on which is important to note for travelers.
Being required to self isolate for two weeks following a trip can make or break the decision of undergoing travel and this has created lots of problems for short term holidaymakers like those who went on a quick holiday to Greece and suddenly have to stay at home when then arrived past September 9th.
The entire list can be found here on the Travel Corridors page of the Department for Transport.
You may not have to self-isolate if you are travelling from one of the countries, territories or regions listed below. You will still need to complete the passenger locator form before you enter the UK.
You will need to self-isolate if you visited or made a transit stop in a country, territory or region that is not on the list in the 14 days before you arrive in England.
The following countries received updates:
- Guadeloupe (will be removed from this list at 4am Saturday 19 September 2020)
- Singapore (will be added to this list at 4am Saturday 19 September 2020 – if you arrive in England from Singapore before 4am 19 September you will need to self-isolate)
- Slovenia (will be removed from this list at 4am Saturday 19 September 2020)
- Sweden (if you arrived in England from Sweden before 4am 12 September 2020 you will need to self-isolate)
- Thailand (will be added to this list at 4am Saturday 19 September 2020 – if you arrive in England from Thailand before 4am 19 September you will need to self-isolate)
Keep in mind that the “list” is a listing of exemptions which means if you’re on the list you will not need to self isolate.
It’s important to note (because we often get this question) that just because you have a stop in a country that doesn’t require isolation it won’t mean you don’t have to go into isolation as mentioned on the website.
I believe that this will help airlines to consider flying more to these exempt countries again as passenger traffic might pick up.
Conclusion
This is big news for those currently in Singapore, Sweden and Thailand as they can finally return to the UK without the self isolation requirement. Especially since the frequently talked about visa amnesty for tourists in Thailand will officially run out on September 26th 2020 and remaining foreigners with expired tourist visas have been urged to return home. Brits can now do so without fearing the isolation requirement.
At the same time those currently in countries that have been removed from the isolation exempt list might want to consider trying to find a way back to the UK today, September 18th before the new requirement kicks in after 4am tomorrow.
True but you will still have to quarantine in Thailand for 14 days when you get there.
and that’s only for long-term stay tourists- you also have to get a special visa and demonstrate you have a 90 day hotel or private accommodation booking
The British Government and most others I dare hasten to add, are complete idiots and could not organise a party in a brewery.
Please if anyone could tell me the logic behind the fact that if you arrive from Sweden or Singapore before 4am on 19/09 you must self isolate and after, you need not ! What a bunch of numpties!
Does anyone remember that Michael Douglas film where he goes into a ‘McDonalds like’ place and at 11.03am he asks for a full breakfast. The guy on the till refuses because its available only up to 11am ! The Michael Douglas character goes berserk, and that’s how I feel with all governments around the world these days. they are completely killing their own economies.
They say politicians have never worked in the real world, because if we all made so many ‘U’ Turns/Mistakes etc etc like they do, in our businesses/jobs, we would fail very quickly indeed.
Think you’d agree that the level of outbreaks mean that people from some countries should isolate, while others need not, yes? Moreover, the level of outbreaks in each country changes from time to time, requiring changing the list of those who should isolate, vs those that need not self-isolate? All sensible so far?
So your only objection to this ruling is the timing aspect. And I’d agree with you there- not because of arbitrary limits like McDonald’s breakfasts, but rather because of the last sentence in the article- “those currently in countries that have been removed from the isolation exempt list might want to consider trying to find a way back to the UK today, September 18th before the new requirement kicks in after 4am tomorrow”. No! If you are in a country where cases have risen to a level that it is being removed from the list, don’t rush home to avoid a self quarantine- just quarantine!
I suspect the UK started implementing the timing aspect because of the uproar on the Spain decision, whereby many people already on route or in Spain got told that they needed to quarantine upon return. Just how it works in Covid times.
So I agree with you that the timing is stupid, but probably for different reasons