Coronavirius: Dozens of countries not in UK quarantine
Image copyright Reuters Dozens of countries will be exempt from a travel quarantine from Monday, UK government sources have indicated.
Currently, most people arriving into the UK from anywhere apart from the Republic of Ireland have to self-isolate for two weeks.
Ministers had previously indicated they were working to establish a relatively small number of travel corridors.
Travel and tourism companies have been calling for urgent clarity over the corridors amid rising bookings.
Last weekend, the government said it would relax its advice on travel abroad and would rate countries as either green, amber or red, depending on the prevalence of the virus.
Now government sources have indicated that a very long list of countries is likely to be published by the end of this week.
It is possible that up to 75 countries deemed low or very low risk will be exempt from the UK’s quarantine from Monday, 6 July.
Some of the countries on this new list do still have restrictions on people travelling in the other direction, from the UK.
Other higher-risk countries, such as the US, will be categorised as red.
It seems that agreeing a small number of travel corridors with specific countries was fraught with risk. The Scottish government has expressed concern about plans to relax the quarantine and it is still in discussion with officials and politicians in Westminster.
Travel companies have called on the government to publish its list as soon as possible, to end the confusion.
George Morgan-Grenville, chief executive of travel company Red Savannah and long-time critic of the quarantine rules, told the BBC he was «very encouraged» by news that a clarification was imminent.
He said the restrictions had been «a disaster for the industry, which had been prevented from getting back on its feet».
Your travel rights
Most people intending to travel overseas when restrictions are lifted may find their travel insurance does not cover every risk created by coronavirus.
A number of new policies will now cover medical treatment for Covid-19 which has been caught while in a resort.
However, people who need to cancel a holiday because they develop symptoms before going away, or are told to self-isolate at home, might not be covered.
People who bought an annual policy before the outbreak could have greater protection, depending on the terms and conditions of the cover.
