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Coronavirus: What are air bridges and which countries can I go to? Coronavirus: What are the UK's travel rules and which countries can I go to?
(1 day later)
Passengers travelling between the UK and some countries may no longer have to quarantine, under the government's air bridges scheme. Passengers entering the UK from dozens of countries may no longer have to quarantine.
Each UK nation sets its own quarantine requirements, so the rules may be relaxed for some parts of the country but not others. The list of destinations will be announced shortly and will come into effect on Monday, government sources have indicated.
The list of air bridge destinations will be announced later this week and come into effect shortly. However, each UK nation sets its own quarantine rules, so they may be relaxed for some parts of the UK but not others.
What are air bridges? Where will I be able to go without quarantining?
Air bridges will allow smoother travel between two countries with relatively low levels of coronavirus. It's thought that travellers from up to 75 countries will no longer have to quarantine when they enter the UK.
They work in both directions, so people can travel between them without having to quarantine on arrival. This list of countries is likely to include those considered low risk.
Air bridges are also known as ''travel corridors'' when they include international journeys made via land and sea. This change could make it easier for Britons to go abroad on holiday, or see relatives. It could also boost the UK tourism industry, which has been devastated by coronavirus and has opposed quarantine rules.
The government looks set to introduce them using a traffic light system. However, it is likely that Britons will still face restrictions - including quarantine - when they arrive in some other countries.
This will classify countries as green, amber or red depending on the number of new cases of coronavirus there and how that could change in the near future. Greece, a popular holiday destination with a low number of coronavirus deaths, says it will not accept direct UK flights until at least mid-July.
In theory, travellers entering the UK from a country in the green or amber category will not have to quarantine. Those travelling from countries in the red category will. Austria requires Britons to self-isolate unless they have a recent medical certificate or test negative for coronavirus on arrival, while France has brought in a voluntary quarantine in response to the UK's measures.
It is thought that all incoming passengers will still have to fill in a contact locator form with their personal details and the address of where they will be staying. New Zealand has barred almost all foreign travellers from visiting, while those entering Australia require a special exemption visa and face a mandatory quarantine,
These classifications won't be set in stone - if coronavirus cases rise in the UK or a partner country, either one could decide to close the air bridge and impose restrictions. Also, because health measures like quarantine are set by each UK nation separately, the changes may not apply everywhere.
Equally, more air bridges could be established if infection rates fall in the UK and around the world. In particular, the Scottish government says it has not made a decision on whether to ease quarantine restrictions.
Why are air bridges being introduced? What happens if I travel to a country not on the list?
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential international travel since 17 March, but is currently reviewing its advice on this. The guidance is expected to be lifted for countries categorised as green or amber. Travellers entering or returning to the UK from a country not on the list of 75 countries are likely to have to quarantine for two weeks.
This will allow Britons to go abroad on holiday or see relatives. It could help the UK receive an economic boost from tourists. These classifications won't be set in stone - if coronavirus cases rise or fall in another country, they could be changed.
However, the Scottish government says it has not made a decision on whether to ease restrictions. While border control is overseen by the UK government, health measures - such as quarantine requirements - are decided by each home nation separately. Equally, further restrictions may be placed on UK travellers if its infection rate rises.
Which countries are on the list? What happened to air bridges?
An initial list of countries which have agreed air bridges with the UK will be announced later this week. Ministers had indicated the government was considering a series of ''air bridge''agreements. These would allow people to travel between the UK and low-risk countries without having to quarantine at either end.
More than 15 nations are thought to be on the list, including France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway and Finland. These were also referred to as ''travel corridors'' when including international journeys made via land and sea.
But there are still question marks around Portugal, which was the first country to offer an air bridge with the UK but has recently seen a rise in new cases around Lisbon. However, the government appears to have moved away from these partnerships, which could have posed problems in practice.
Sweden, which did not impose strict lockdown measures and has a higher infection rate than the UK, is also unlikely to have made the list. For example, Portugal was the first country to offer the UK an air bridge but has recently seen a rise in new coronavirus cases around Lisbon.
Greece is also likely to be missing from the list. The country, which has reported fewer than 200 coronavirus deaths, says it will not accept direct flights from the UK until at least mid-July. Because of coronavirus, the government has advised against all but essential international travel since 17 March.
On 8 June, a two-week quarantine period was introduced for most people arriving in the UK. The government said imported cases had become a more significant risk to public health.
Both of these policies are currently being reviewed.