UK: Quarantine requirements to be lifted for low-risk countries June 26 /update 28

Event

British authorities announced on Friday, June 26, that quarantine requirements introduced due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will be lifted for travelers arriving from "low-risk" countries. Countries will be categorized into green, amber, and red categories considering factors such as the prevalence of COVID-19 and the reliability of information available. Travelers arriving from countries categorized as green or amber will no longer be required to self-quarantine for 14 days, while the restrictions for countries categorized as red will remain in place. The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will announce the categories of countries in the coming days.

London City Airport (LCY) resumed commercial flights as of Sunday, June 21, after nearly three months of no commercial or private flights. Initially, flights will be restricted to those within the UK and Ireland. Additional flights to countries elsewhere in Europe are likely to recommence in the coming weeks. LCY's website should be monitored for the latest updates regarding flight options.

On June 15, UK authorities confirmed that travel will be permitted to Spain from Sunday, June 21, amid further loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. The announcement follows the Spanish government's decision to reopen their borders 10 days earlier than previously planned. Despite the early reopening, the UK government still advises against any nonessential travel to Spain.

Furthermore, from June 15, retail parks and shopping centers have reopened following a three-month closure. An official 2 m (6.6 ft) social distancing requirement remains in effect, as do occupancy limits.

As of June 26 authorities have confirmed 310,836 cases of COVID-19 in the country and 43,498 associated deaths in the UK. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.

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