ts that time of the week again, where the Magic 8 ball in Whitehall has had a shake, a minister makes some noises, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office pushes out a new its new travel advice.
Let’s see what’s changed this week.
- Greece
- Exempt from a self-isolation requirement: Lesvos, Milos (Serifos), Tinos, Santorini and Zakynthos, Mainland Greece
- Required to self Isolate: Islands of Mykonos and Crete
There are also changes to self-isolation requirements on return from these islands.
If you are returning to England, Northern Ireland or Wales from Mykonos or Crete, or returning to Scotland from any part of Greece, you will need to self-isolate on your return. Some exemptions apply.
The requirement to self-isolate on return to England, Wales and Northern Ireland from Lesvos, Milos (Serifos), Tinos, Santorini and Zakynthos will be lifted for those arriving after 4 am on 10 October. The Welsh Government has also lifted the requirement to self-isolate for those returning to Wales from Paros and Antiparos arriving after 4 am on 10 October.
As usual, check the latest guidance on entering the UK and related guidance for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
And for the usual things you need to be aware of
It goes without saying that we need to bang on about filling in the passenger locator form (even though whoever wrote that form did it with the minimal amount of testing in the world…).
This is required to be completed before you arrive in the UK. All travellers, including those from exempt destinations, will still be required to show a completed form on arrival into the UK unless they fall into a small group of exemptions. The UK Border Force do carry out spot checks, and travellers who refuse to provide their contact details, face a fine starting at £100 – so it’s in your personal as well as fiscal interest to fill that form in.
There’s got to be a better way?
Maybe. Earlier this week, HM Government got off its backside and set up… wait for it… a task force to help it decide how to reduce quarantine time. The idea is that the task force will look at introducing a testing system for travellers to the UK. These tests would be funded out of the travellers pocket, rather than burdening the health service.
Whilst this sounds good in theory. However, there is a long way to go. In addition, the task force is not due to report until November, extending the pain for the aviation, tourism and other industries.
It seems that the Government is happy to sit and watch industries suffer as it struggles to get a grip of COVID-19…
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