Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[Eyersey468]

It seems a distant prospect at the moment, but ultimately the restrictions were largely lifted on the basis of political expediency rather than anything else. Pretty much ever since Omicron started circulating, we have known that it is mild but highly infectious - yet it is taking until this Friday (conveniently timed to coincide with school holidays) to remove the last of the restrictions.

Restrictions weren't removed on the basis of being unnecessary, disproportionate or because of their impact on hitherto assured liberties. And no-one has guaranteed they won't return. So if/when the "data is concerning" again, there's nothing to stop restrictions from returning.

I really hope not, but after 2 years of often illogical restrictions being introduced and removed at entirely arbitrary thresholds and with fallacious reasoning, I don't have any confidence left.

I completely agree. If there had been evidence that the restrictions had done some good, there had been a cost benefit analysis done to start with and there was some logic to their removal i would feel differently but I have no confidence left either nor do i trust this government one bit.

 

[island]

Mask wearing obligation for public transport in the Netherlands is dropped from 23 March. It still remains in aircraft and airports after security.
Press release (in Dutch).

EU citizens will also no longer have to complete travel related formalities regardless of origin, but non-EU citizens entering from outside Schengen will still have some form-filling.

 

[roversfan2001]

Are the Dutch still insisting on a pre-arrival test for UK arrivals? Would be quite a stark difference between EU and non-EU arrivals if so.

 

[nw1]

EU citizens will also no longer have to complete travel related formalities regardless of origin, but non-EU citizens entering from outside Schengen will still have some form-filling.

I've said this before, but it's really time to stop this discriminatory nonsense. Why does being an EU citizen make you less likely to have Covid?

 

[island]

I've said this before, but it's really time to stop this discriminatory nonsense. Why does being an EU citizen make you less likely to have Covid?

The EU is leaning on member states to revoke policies that restrict freedom of movement of EU citizens.

 

[Butts]

Heathrow dropping the requirement to wear masks from Tomorrow and BA are dropping them to destinations that don't require one on arrival.

Slowly things starting to feel normal again

 

[Citybreak1]

Any thoughts on the situation with EU? Holland have unlocked to all passengers unvaccinated or vaccinated but you need to be from EU. That means UK can only travel for essential reasons. Yet Norway and Repubic of Ireland and UK now fully open? What’s the logic? I am keen to book a Eurostar how long is it likely to be?

 

[johncrossley]

Any thoughts on the situation with EU? Holland have unlocked to all passengers unvaccinated or vaccinated but you need to be from EU. That means UK can only travel for essential reasons. Yet Norway and Repubic of Ireland and UK now fully open? What’s the logic? I am keen to book a Eurostar how long is it likely to be?

Vaccinated travellers from the UK have been able to go to the Netherlands for some time as long as they got a test beforehand. They haven't yet updated the website to take into account the new rules from 23 March, but I presume it won't be any worse than that. I would guess travelling to Belgium and then onto the Netherlands as a separate trip gets around the need for testing.

Further easing of coronavirus measures

In recent weeks, coronavirus infection rates have once again increased. However, the current variant is making people less ill and the number of people being admitted to intensive care is limited. So the government has decided to further ease the current measures. However, certain advice will...

www.government.nl

Non-EU nationals remain subject to an EU entry ban. Exemptions apply in several cases, however, such as for people travelling from ‘safe’ countries, people who are vaccinated or who have recovered from coronavirus, and people travelling for certain purposes.

 

[92002]

Vaccinated travellers from the UK have been able to go to the Netherlands for some time as long as they got a test beforehand. They haven't yet updated the website to take into account the new rules from 23 March, but I presume it won't be any worse than that. I would guess travelling to Belgium and then onto the Netherlands as a separate trip gets around the need for testing.

Further easing of coronavirus measures

In recent weeks, coronavirus infection rates have once again increased. However, the current variant is making people less ill and the number of people being admitted to intensive care is limited. So the government has decided to further ease the current measures. However, certain advice will...

www.government.nl

Perhaps they why the Eurostar I was on to Brussels was heaving. It went on to Amsterdam.

Coming back from Brussels just as busy too. However no locator form, no entry to the terminal.

 

[43096]

Perhaps they why the Eurostar I was on to Brussels was heaving. It went on to Amsterdam.

Coming back from Brussels just as busy too. However no locator form, no entry to the terminal.

The Netherlands restrictions are now utterly pointless as they’re in the Schengen area. So you could get Eurostar to Brussels and then get the Brussels-Amsterdam IC service which does take longer, but uses the normal platforms at the stations it stops at (Breda, Rotterdam Centraal, Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal in NL). You also get the benefit of it being loco hauled!

 

[Citybreak1]

My point is you can travel unvaccinated from any EU country but not UK. When might this change?

 

[92002]

My point is you can travel unvaccinated from any EU country but not UK. When might this change?

Since the UK decided to leave the EU probably never. It was their choice to leave after all. One of the many drawbacks to their decision.

 

[Citybreak1]

Since the UK decided to leave the EU probably never. It was their choice to leave after all. One of the many drawbacks to their decision.

Yes but I imagine EU only makes up a tiny market for Holland what about China? USA?

 

[zero]

Yes but I imagine EU only makes up a tiny market for Holland what about China? USA?

Huh?? The vast majority of visitors to the Netherlands are from the EU (and I mean before covid). Most Americans never leave the US their entire life, and I expect out of those who do leave almost all will be vaccinated unless they genuinely can't be.

 

[roversfan2001]

Yes but I imagine EU only makes up a tiny market for Holland what about China? USA?

I also suspect the unvaccinated make up a tiny market too.

 

[Citybreak1]

I also suspect the unvaccinated make up a tiny market too.

Anybody who has not had a booster too. I know plenty of double jabbed who never got a booster. So probably millions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2022 ==

And why is it good enough for Norway Mexico Ireland to open up without the EU blocking rule?

 

[roversfan2001]

Anybody who has not had a booster too. I know plenty of double jabbed who never got a booster. So probably millions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2022 ==

And why is it good enough for Norway Mexico Ireland to open up without the EU blocking rule?

In reality, anyone who really wants to travel any time soon will have had all three doses. The only reason I got my third dose was to go to Amsterdam next weekend, for example.

I don't agree with the travel ban but I also don't see too many people being directly affected by it, definitely not enough for governments to feel any pressure to remove it.

 

[Citybreak1]

In reality, anyone who really wants to travel any time soon will have had all three doses. The only reason I got my third dose was to go to Amsterdam next weekend, for example.

I don't agree with the travel ban but I also don't see too many people being directly affected by it, definitely not enough for governments to feel any pressure to remove it.

Yes but unvaccinated are allowed in from say France so it’s Brexit choice. We should ban them from coming to UK.

 

[Mag_seven]

We should ban them from coming to UK.

I don't think a "toit for tat" travel restriction policy would be in any way helpful. With omicron now proven to be mild and almost endemic all countries should abolish travel bans and restrictions completely now. There is no point (if there ever was) in them anymore.

 

[Citybreak1]

Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, and Ireland are all open to all.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2022 ==

I don't think a "toit for tat" travel restriction policy would be in any way helpful. With omicron now proven to be mild and almost endemic all countries should abolish travel bans and restrictions completely now. There is no point (if there ever was) in them anymore.

True maybe I’m a little impatient and these travel rules will come to an end. Only a few weeks ago even Ireland seemed impossible but it’s now open as is UK.

 

[kevin_roche]

I'm off to Spain tomorrow for a long weekend I'll report back next week.

 

[greyman42]

Since the UK decided to leave the EU probably never. It was their choice to leave after all. One of the many drawbacks to their decision.

When you say "their choice", do you mean "our choice"?

 

[Citybreak1]

When you say "their choice", do you mean "our choice"?

They could exempt UK as we are part of Europe. I assume people in Switzerland won’t get free access to Holland either?

 

[johncrossley]

They could exempt UK as we are part of Europe. I assume people in Switzerland won’t get free access to Holland either?

Switzerland is part of Schengen. From the ease of travel point of view, they are more in the EU then the UK ever was.

 

[92002]

When you say "their choice", do you mean "our choice"?

Well England and Wales votes yes leave. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted no, stay in. So the government decided yes leave

 

[RailExplorer]

18 countries have now removed all COVID related travel restrictions - that means no vaccine or testing requirements:

Aruba
Bahrain
Jordan
Ireland
Hungary
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Montenegro
Curacao
England
Maldives
Moldova
Mongolia
Iceland
El Salvador
Slovenia
Norway
Mexico

 

[102 fan]

Well England and Wales votes yes leave. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted no, stay in. So the government decided yes leave

At the risk of going off topic, it was a UK wide vote, and the majority decided to leave.

 

[kevin_roche]

In Spain now and was just a case of getting my PLF formed scanned after immigration check. Lots of people still wearing masks here. Looks like it is still mandatory in shops.

 

[1D54]

In Berlin and heading to football at Eisenhüttenstadt tomorrow and was hoping to do a bit of shopping over the border in Slubice on an hours wait at Frankfurt (O) Ain't gonna happen as proof of recent negative test is required to enter Poland. It's creating havoc with people that commute daily between the two towns.

 

[Butts]

In Berlin and heading to football at Eisenhüttenstadt tomorrow and was hoping to do a bit of shopping over the border in Slubice on an hours wait at Frankfurt (O) Ain't gonna happen as proof of recent negative test is required to enter Poland. It's creating havoc with people that commute daily between the two towns.

Quite ironic they are still insisting on a test with all the people pouring in from Ukraine albeit for completely different reasons !!