HOLIDAY HOPES
Air bridge travel announcement: What was today’s update on UK quarantine rules?
MINISTERS today revealed that Britain's summer holidays have finally been confirmed as they announced an air-bridges deal for last-minute getaways.
Holidaymakers from England will be able to fly to 59 countries and territories including France, Italy and Spain without needing to quarantine if they return from July 10. Here's what was said in the announcement.
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What did the government update on air bridges say?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed the government's proposals today (July 3), in a release to the media.
The full list of countries for which quarantine will not apply to people arriving back in England was published. The list of 59 countries includes:
- Andorra
- Germany
- New Zealand
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Greece
- Norway
- Aruba
- Greenland
- Poland
- Australia
- Grenada
- Réunion
- Austria Guadeloupe
- San Marino
- Bahamas
- Hong Kong
- Serbia
- Barbados
- Hungary
- Seychelles
- Belgium
- Iceland
- South Korea
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
- Italy
- Spain
- Croatia
- Jamaica
- St Barthélemy
- Curaçao
- Japan
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Cyprus
- Liechtenstein
- St Lucia
- Czech Republic
- Lithuania
- St Pierre and Miquelon
- Denmark
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
- Dominica
- Macau
- Taiwan
- Faroe Islands
- Malta
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Fiji
- Mauritius
- Turkey
- Finland
- Monaco
- Vatican City
- France
- Netherlands
- Vietnam
- French Polynesia
- New Caledonia
Other countries on the list include Japan, Vietnam and Turkey.
Countries will be graded green if they are safer than the UK, amber if less safe, or red which means all passengers returning will have to isolate.
The guidance says: “We will keep the conditions in these countries and territories under review.
“If they worsen we will not hesitate to reintroduce self-isolation requirements.
“Travellers should always check the latest FCO travel advice.”
Speaking on Sky News this morning, Grant Schapps said: "There will be a list of 50-plus countries. If you add in the overseas territories (there will be) 60-something-or-other that will be announced later today.
"France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be on that list.
"It is really important that we have done this in a very careful and cautious way. The most important thing is to maintain the gains that we have had."
What is the new traffic light system?
“Green” and “amber” traffic light destinations cover every European nation — allowing sunseekers to fly off to favourite hotspots Spain, Greece and France without having to isolate when they return.
Only those flying to “red” countries — Covid hotspots such as the US, Brazil and India — will have to self-isolate on return.
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The Foreign Office will continue to advise against all non-essential travel to the red-light nations.
For all three lights, every passenger arriving in the UK will still have to fill out the “passenger locator form” to track any potential virus outbreaks.
Until air bridges are established the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises British nationals against all but essential international travel.
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