Reader question: If I arrive in the UK from France before Sunday 4am, do I still have to quarantine?
The UK government announced on Wednesday evening that fully vaccinated travellers arriving from France from Sunday, August 8th would no longer have to quarantine. But if you are already quarantining in the UK, can you stop on Sunday?
The change — which will come into effect at 4:00 am (0300 GMT) on Sunday — puts France back on England’s so-called “amber” list of countries under its traffic light system for arriving travellers.
The government's new guidelines state that "If you arrive in England from 4am Sunday 8 August, and you are fully vaccinated in the UK, USA or Europe", you will not need to quarantine or take a Covid test 8 days after arrival.
People travelling from France previously had to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.
READ ALSO UK government to drop quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals from France
Many people who arrived or are due to arrive in England before Sunday have been questioning whether they will be able to come out of quarantine early, when the new measures come into effect at 4am on Sunday, even if it has not been 10 days.
One reader emailed The Local to say when filling out his compulsory "Passenger Locator Form" for travel to the UK before Sunday, France had already been re-classed as amber meaning he had no need to self-isolate. Or at least that's how he interpreted it.
The Local contacted the UK Department for Transport, which confirmed that people arriving before Sunday 4am will still have to complete the quarantine period. In other words, they don't benefit from the relaxation of the rules.
"We had to set a date, so if you arrive at any time before Sunday you have to quarantine for the full ten days," a spokesperson said.
How it started ….. how it’s going.
Genius policy making from @grantshapps where people who returned from France BEFORE Sunday are forced to do the full 10 days quarantine even though the Government knows full well that Beta on mainland France is not a thing. 😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/yZ8bffvzJR
— Alpine Migrant (@alpinemigrant) August 5, 2021
That seems ridiculous, especially as tested in France & on day 2.
— EuropeAnne (@londonanne) August 5, 2021
Many of those who will therefore be stuck in quarantine while new arrivals do not have to stay home at all will find the situation grossly unfair.
"That seems ridiculous," one Twitter user wrote, highlighting the fact that travellers must take a Covid test on day 2 after arriving in the UK, and so many of those in quarantine will already have proof of negative status.
"Seems extremely unfair," journalist Kim Willsher tweeted.
You can find full details about travel restrictions between the UK and France HERE.
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The change — which will come into effect at 4:00 am (0300 GMT) on Sunday — puts France back on England’s so-called “amber” list of countries under its traffic light system for arriving travellers.
The government's new guidelines state that "If you arrive in England from 4am Sunday 8 August, and you are fully vaccinated in the UK, USA or Europe", you will not need to quarantine or take a Covid test 8 days after arrival.
People travelling from France previously had to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.
READ ALSO UK government to drop quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals from France
Many people who arrived or are due to arrive in England before Sunday have been questioning whether they will be able to come out of quarantine early, when the new measures come into effect at 4am on Sunday, even if it has not been 10 days.
One reader emailed The Local to say when filling out his compulsory "Passenger Locator Form" for travel to the UK before Sunday, France had already been re-classed as amber meaning he had no need to self-isolate. Or at least that's how he interpreted it.
The Local contacted the UK Department for Transport, which confirmed that people arriving before Sunday 4am will still have to complete the quarantine period. In other words, they don't benefit from the relaxation of the rules.
"We had to set a date, so if you arrive at any time before Sunday you have to quarantine for the full ten days," a spokesperson said.
How it started ….. how it’s going.
— Alpine Migrant (@alpinemigrant) August 5, 2021
Genius policy making from @grantshapps where people who returned from France BEFORE Sunday are forced to do the full 10 days quarantine even though the Government knows full well that Beta on mainland France is not a thing. 😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/yZ8bffvzJR
That seems ridiculous, especially as tested in France & on day 2.
— EuropeAnne (@londonanne) August 5, 2021
Many of those who will therefore be stuck in quarantine while new arrivals do not have to stay home at all will find the situation grossly unfair.
"That seems ridiculous," one Twitter user wrote, highlighting the fact that travellers must take a Covid test on day 2 after arriving in the UK, and so many of those in quarantine will already have proof of negative status.
"Seems extremely unfair," journalist Kim Willsher tweeted.
You can find full details about travel restrictions between the UK and France HERE.
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