Quarantine rules
Alongside infection spread through private gatherings, we are seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases as a result of increased labour immigration. This is partly due to the fact that some people have not been following the current rules. In addition, the serious infection situation in Europe means that there is a greater risk of imported infection, as the scheme that is currently in place exempts foreign workers from the duty of quarantine. That is why the Government is now tightening the rules for labour immigration:

• Foreign workers from countries classified as ‘red’ by the EU will no longer be exempt from the duty of quarantine. The EU defines countries as red if the number of newly notified COVID-19 cases is more than 150 per 100 000 people during a 14-day period, or if the 14-day cumulative coronavirus case notification rate is 50 or more per 100 000 people and 4 % or more of tests for coronavirus infection are positive. Foreign workers arriving in Norway from these countries must go into quarantine for 10 days and cannot start working until this quarantine period is over. This change will come into effect at midnight on Friday 30 October. It will not have retroactive effect
• Foreign workers from other countries may still be exempt from the duty of quarantine. But the rules for them are also being tightened: workers who are allowed to work but must be in quarantine during leisure time are to be tested once every three days and must be given accommodation in a single room for the first 10 days of their stay in Norway. The employer is now explicitly required to ensure that it is possible to maintain social distancing when undergoing quarantine during leisure time. These changes will not have retroactive effect.
• The Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health have now been tasked with reviewing the quarantine rules to assess the need for further clarification.

At a glance, a list of countries who have or about to close their borders to travellers from the UK

Argentina

Argentina has banned flights from the UK. It said the last flight from the UK would arrive in the country on Monday 21/12/2020.

Belgium

Belgium banned flights from the UK for at least 24 hours from midnight on Sunday 20/12/2020.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria said flights to and from the UK would be suspended from midnight Sunday until January 31.

Canada

Canada is banning all UK flights for 72 hours.

Chile

Chile announced that it would suspend flights from the UK effective Tuesday 22/12/2020.

Colombia

Colombia government will suspend all flights to the UK (dates tbc)

Croatia

Croatia said it would temporarily suspend passenger air traffic from the UK for 48 hours.

Denmark

Denmark has suspended flights from the UK for 48 hours starting Monday 21/12/2020 at 09:00 GMT.

El Salvador

President Nayib Bukele said anyone who had been in Britain or South Africa in the past 30 days will not be allowed to enter the country.

Estonia

All flights from UK cancelled

Latvia

All flights from UK halted

Lithuania

All flights have halted from the UK.

Finland

Finland has barred flights from the UK for two weeks.

France

France has banned all travel from the UK for 48 hours, including journeys “related to goods transport by road, air, sea or rail”.

Germany

Government halted all air links with the UK from midnight on Sunday, with the ban initially slated to last until December 31. Cargo flights will be exempt.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong will ban flights from the UK over new coronavirus strain.

Italy

Italy has blocked flights from Great Britain and the “entry into Italy of people who have stayed there during the last 14 days”. The new strain has been found in one person in Italy who recently returned from the UK.

India

Announced a suspension of all flights originating from the UK to the country until the end of the year, the aviation ministry said in a tweet.

Iran

Iran has ordered flights from the UK suspended for two weeks.

Ireland

Ireland has banned all flights arriving from the UK from midnight Sunday for at least 48 hours.

Israel

Israel said it was barring entry to foreign citizens travelling from the UK, Denmark and South Africa.

Kuwait

Kuwait has added the UK to a list of “high-risk” nations and banned flights.

Morocco

Morocco banned all flights to the UK beginning on Sunday.

Norway

Norway will suspend flights from the UK with immediate effect for a minimum of 48 hour, the Norwegian health minister said in a statement on Monday.

Netherlands

All passengers flights from the UK to the Netherlands have been banned until January 1, the Dutch government said. This ban does not currently apply to car, ferry and train passengers, though the Dutch government are keeping this under review and advise against all but essential travel via these means

Poland

Poland will be suspending flights from the UK starting from midnight on Monday 21/12/2020.

Romania

Romania has banned all flights to and from the UK for two weeks starting on Monday 21/12/2020 afternoon.

Switzerland

Switzerland has stopped flights until further notice.

Turkey

Turkey said flights from the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and South Africa will be suspended.

Source: UniversalVisaService

• United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be removed from list of travel corridors following a concerning increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases

• From 0400 Tuesday 12 January, travellers arriving into England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from the UAE will need to self-isolate

• Current national restrictions do not permit international travel, unless for a limited set of reasons

Following a significant increase in both the level and pace of change in confirmed cases, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been removed from UK’s list of Travel Corridors.

From 0400 Tuesday 12 January 2021, people returning to the UK from the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al-Quwain, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah) will need to self-isolate for ten days, as the countries have been removed from the Travel Corridors list.

The decision has been made following a significant acceleration in the number of imported cases, along with the number of reported new cases over the past seven days, which have risen in the UAE by 52%.

People currently in the UAE are encouraged to follow the local rules, return home as normal and check the FCDO’s travel advice pages on GOV.UK for further information.

Passengers arriving from all international destinations, including the UAE, will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to three days before departing for England or Scotland to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally.

Passengers will need to present this proof to carriers,along with their passenger locator form. The UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrival into England to ensure that passengers are fully compliant.

At the same time, the FCDO has updated its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to UAE.

The Government has made consistently clear it will take decisive action if necessary to contain the virus, including if the public health risk of people returning from a particular country without self-isolating becomes too high.

The devolved administrations have all taken the same decision today, so travellers arriving from the UAE into all parts of the UK will need to self-isolate.

National restrictions for England introduced on 6 January 2021 remain in place meaning everyone must stay at home unless travelling for a very limited set of reasons, including for work. This means people can no longer travel to take holidays or travel internationally unless for work or other legally permitted reasons. Those in breach of the rules face penalties starting at £200, rising to a maximum of £6,400.

Source: BTA

NEW: requirements imposed by the Dutch Government means passengers travelling to the Netherlands as of 15 January, must provide proof that they have tested negative for coronavirus following a rapid test directly before departure. This is in addition to the negative approved PCR test or RT-LAMP to be conducted no more than 72 hours before arrival.

Both negative test results need to be provided at check-in to be allowed to travel. Passengers need to check the availability of testing facilities at their departure airport before travel and allow extra time for this test to take place.

Due to the new government flight restrictions, KLM is adjusting its schedules accordingly. We will contact affected passengers directly. Please ensure that you have entered their contact details in the booking.

Source: KLM