With the price of UK staycations skyrocketing and ‘Freedom Day’ still weeks away , Britons are desperate for a sunny summer holiday abroad.
Countries are separated into green, amber and red list destinations for UK arrivals – with the latter two forcing England-bound passengers to quarantine for ten days on landing.
What may be catching some travellers out, however, is that other destinations have their own Covid rules for visitors.
Just yesterday, Italy imposed mandatory testing and a five-day quarantine for arrivals from Britain as concerns grow over the spread of the highly contagious Indian variant.
It follows the likes of France, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia and Romania in imposing lock-down requirements on UK arrivals.
Britain on Friday said there had been a 79 per cent increase in weekly reported cases of the mutation – also known as the Delta variant.
With the price of UK staycations skyrocketing and ‘Freedom Day’ still weeks away , Britons are desperate for a sunny summer holiday abroad. What may be catching some travellers out, however, is that foreign destinations have their own Covid rules for visitors
Italy is currently on the UK’s so-called Amber list, meaning visitors must quarantine for 10 days on their return and take two tests – on day two and day eight – before the are released
The variant now makes up 91 per cent of sequenced cases, Public Health England said.
In France, those arriving who have not received two doses of the Covid vaccine must quarantine for seven days on arrival.
A PCR test must then be taken at the end of this self isolation period.
In Ireland, all arrivals from Britain must quarantine for 14 days. Those returning to England from the Republic need not quarantine at all, as the country is England’s green list.
In Romania – which is on the UK’s amber list – arrivals must quarantine for 14 days. But those who have had both doses of the jab at least ten days before landing are exempt.
Slovenian authorities have instilled a mandatory ten day quaratine for British arrivals – as the UK is on the country’s ‘dark red list’.
But the isolation can be ended early if a negative PCR test is produced on day five.
Meanwhile in Germany and Austria, no flights are permitted from the UK at all – except for returning residents or citizens.
However, Spain – also on England’s amber list meaning arrivals must quarantine for ten days at home – has no restrictions on UK arrivals.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier said: ‘Spain will be delighted, very delighted to welcome all British tourists’.
The popular holiday hotspot joins Italy, Greece and Cyprus in permitting Britons to arrive without quarantine.
Yesterday, Italy’s Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced the new quarantine rules for arrivals from the UK.
The new measures will come into force on Saturday and follows similar bans by France, Austria, and Germany, which have already introduced varying curbs on those entering from Britain.
Italy is introducing mandatory testing and a five-day quarantine for visitors from Britain, in another blow to summer holiday plans
Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced the new regulations on Friday, forcing Brits who travel to Italy to test and quarantine for five days
Italy is currently on the UK’s so-called Amber list, meaning visitors must quarantine for 10 days on their return and take two tests – on day two and day eight – before the are released.
It comes as it was announced double-jabbed British holidaymakers could be given the green light to fly to nearly 170 countries from next month under new government plans.
Those who are fully vaccinated will provide evidence via the NHS app at border controls and then be able to enjoy trips to amber list nations without having to isolate for 10 days upon returning home.
The idea would see travellers obliged to take several PCR tests on their return, but if they come back negative, they won’t have to remain stuck in their homes like under current rules.
Italy has been one of the European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but infection rates have fallen sharply in recent weeks
Italy was one of the worst hit European countries but cases and deaths have declined rapidly in recent months and restrictions in much of the country have been lifted
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi warned his government would impose mandatory quarantine for British travellers if the Delta variant continued to spread at the G7 summit last week.
Italy will simultaneously lift curbs on travellers from the United States, Canada, Japan, and other European Union states who meet the requirements of the so-called Green Certificate issued by the EU.
That digital Covid certificate, which comes into force on July 1, will demonstrate whether a bearer has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has been recently tested or has acquired immunity from previously contracting the disease and recovering.
Italy will simultaneously lift curbs on travellers from the United States, Canada, Japan, and other European Union states who meet the requirements of the so-called Green Certificate issued by the EU
A ban on people arriving from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will remain in place, Health Minister Roberto Speranza (pictured) added on Facebook
Currently those arriving from the United States, Japan and Canada must show a negative coronavirus test and quarantine for 10 days on arrival unless they come on one of a limited number of ‘Covid-free’ flights.
A ban on people arriving from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will remain in place, Speranza added on Facebook.
Italy has been one of the European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but infection rates have fallen sharply in recent weeks and restrictions in much of the country have been lifted.
Spain has announced it will scrap rules on wearing masks outdoors from June 26 as Covid cases fall across the country.
It will come as a relief to those lucky enough to make it out to Spain for their holidays, especially sunbathers who might have found themselves returning with some very odd tan lines otherwise.
Currently, Spain is welcoming all fully-vaccinated tourists including Britons without the need for a negative Covid test or quarantine.
Arrivals must have received their final dose of an EU-approved vaccine at least two weeks before departure, with all vaccines currently in use in the UK qualifying.
Non-vaccinated arrivals are being accepted, provided they show a negative PCR or antigen test taken 48 hours before departure.
Spain will drop rules which made masks mandatory in all public places from next week, the prime minister has said