UK travel corridors: Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Namibia and Israel added to quarantine-free list
No countries have been removed from the list
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Namibia and Israel are among the countries added to the government’s list of travel corridors this week.
The other additions are Uruguay, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin Islands.
It means travellers arriving into England, Wales and Northern Ireland from these countries will no longer have to quarantine for two weeks, and presents the potential for winter sun holidays to some of these destinations once leisure travel restrictions are lifted.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “If you arrive from these countries after 4am on Saturday 21st Nov you will NOT need to self-isolate.
“Please remember that under the current restrictions travel outside of the home, with the exception of a limited number of reasons including work or education, is not permitted.”
He added that no countries have been removed from the list this week.
The destinations added to the travel corridors list are now also exempt from the Foreign Office’s (FCDO) blanket advisory against all non-essential international travel.
Of the countries listed above, only Rwanda and Namibia appear to be letting British nationals enter the country for non-essential reasons at present.
The travel corridor for Israel applies to Israel and Jerusalem in their entirety. For the Occupied Palestinian Territories, only East Jerusalem is included in the travel corridor; the remainder of the Occupied Palestinian Territories are not included.
The list of countries exempt from quarantine upon arrival into the UK continues to be updated on a weekly basis, despite the fact that nearly all travel is currently prohibited in England.
From 5 November to 2 December, all leisure travel, both domestic and international, is banned, with the only exceptions being essential travel for work, education or a small range of other “legally permitted” reasons.
The Foreign Office and DfT advice and guidance therefore only applies to returning travellers; it does not permit Brits to suddenly travel abroad on holiday.
The DfT has said that, during lockdown, “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 and rising to a maximum of £6,400.”
Travel to and from Denmark also remains banned by the DfT after a coronavirus mutation was discovered in Danish mink farms.
The ban prohibits all non-British nationals from entering the UK from Denmark, and requires British Nationals, visa holders and permanent residents returning to the UK directly or indirectly from Denmark to self-isolate along with all other members of their household for 14 days from the date they were last in Denmark.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments