Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[Yew]

I wouldn't bet on any relaxation of restrictions - foreign travel is a soft target in the "seen to be doing something" game.

Indeed, just look at Starmers atrocious accusations of the PM being "missing" as he's not brought in more restrictions.

 

[LAX54]

I wouldn't bet on any relaxation of restrictions - foreign travel is a soft target in the "seen to be doing something" game.

But as each day, even hour goes by, and new 'evidence' appears, it makes the restrictions all the more a waste of time, money, and is really just futile !
How are they also going to get around the fact that the cloth masks that have been worn for 2 years, are in fact, we are now told, actually useless ! ?
Germany at least, they are banned, the USA now saying don't use them

 

[Mag_seven]

But as each day, even hour goes by, and new 'evidence' appears, it makes the restrictions all the more a waste of time, money, and is really just futile !

I know they're futile but that won't stop them as experience has shown!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Germany is apparently lifting the ban on UK citizens from 4th January. Expect other places with bans to follow suit.

 

[adc82140]

Germany is apparently lifting the ban on UK citizens from 4th January. Expect other places with bans to follow suit.

Seems sensible. Omicron is the dominant variant now throughout Western Europe. I bet Macron won't budge though, so he can thumb his nose at Johnson. The pair of them need to pack in the willy waving.

 

[nw1]

I wouldn't bet on any relaxation of restrictions - foreign travel is a soft target in the "seen to be doing something" game.

Silly though, given the UK is near the top of the Omicron league. Mind you I get the impression France is catching up fast, which makes Macron's actions all the more futile.

 

[Berliner]

I don't understand the rule in France banning 3rd country nationals from even driving through the country to go elsewhere. It seems self-defeatist as that's a lot of road users not buying French fuel or paying motorway tolls. Mind you, like almost every covid rule, it is illogical for the hell of it.

 

[Cdd89]

Germany is apparently lifting the ban on UK citizens from 4th January. Expect other places with bans to follow suit.

I wonder what the Netherlands will do. Their border rules are bizarre, and verging on the embarrassing racist.

• South Africa and a few other African nations are listed as “very high risk with a variant”
• U.K. / USA are listed as “very high risk without a variant” (!?)
• For both lists, the vaccination exemption from quarantine has been removed
• …but from all countries, visiting family (among lots of other excuses) remain as exemptions

I don't understand the rule in France banning 3rd country nationals from even driving through the country to go elsewhere

Don’t forget that they owe us revenge, since we put them on an exclusive special “Amber-plus” naughty list back in July.

 

[Ediswan]

I don't understand the rule in France banning 3rd country nationals from even driving through the country to go elsewhere. It seems self-defeatist as that's a lot of road users not buying French fuel or paying motorway tolls. Mind you, like almost every covid rule, it is illogical for the hell of it.

France has relented:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59832076

UK nationals will be allowed to travel through France if they are going to their home in an EU country during the festive period.
France suspended its Covid restriction after UK travellers faced difficulties reaching their country of residence.

 

[nw1]

I don't understand the rule in France banning 3rd country nationals from even driving through the country to go elsewhere. It seems self-defeatist as that's a lot of road users not buying French fuel or paying motorway tolls. Mind you, like almost every covid rule, it is illogical for the hell of it.

Edited my original 'anti-Macron rant' response thanks to post by @Cdd89 - it appears there is not a blanket ban on all non-EU countries after all.

Don’t forget that they owe us revenge, since we put them on an exclusive special “Amber-plus” naughty list back in July.

But it looks like it's not just 'us' as discussed above.

 

[Peterthegreat]

So they're not just singling out the UK due to high Omicron?

If they're banning all non-EU countries that is absolutely disgusting, and worse than singling out the UK (and I say this as a remainer, but I despise the 'reverse Brexit' philosophy of certain EU leaders as much as I do Brexit). It shows that behind the nice suit and grin of Macron lies a xenophobe who is no better than Farage.


Much the same attitude really.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jan 2022 ==



But it looks like it's not just 'us' as discussed above.

I believe they are singling out the UK as only French nationals or residents (or those with compelling reasons) can enter France from the UK. This is according to the UK government website. A temporary exemption has been given to allow those residing in other EU countries to return through France after the Christmas holidays. This was meant to keep omicron at bay! France now has a higher infection rate than the UK!!

 

[Cdd89]

If they're banning all non-EU countries that is absolutely disgusting, and worse than singling out the UK (and I say this as a remainer, but I despise the 'reverse Brexit' philosophy of certain EU leaders as much as I do Brexit

According to the Ministry of the Interior web page:

kernel (20)

Les actualités relatives aux compétences régaliennes de l'institution. La sécurité (intérieure, civile, routière), l'immigration, les collectivités territoriales, les préfectures, les cultes, les élections, sont des exemples des grandes thématiques qui font l'actualité du Ministère.

mobile.interieur.gouv.fr

Countries subject to specific measures : The United Kingdom constitutes a special category of countries with active circulation of a variant, due to the specific measures applying to travel to and from this country since December 20, 2021.

“Red list”countries: Countries where active circulation of the virus is observed with the presence of variants of concern. These include the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mauritius, Moldavia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Suriname, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

“Scarlet list”countries: Countries where there is very active circulation of the virus and discovery of a variant that may pose a risk of increased transmissibility or immune escape. These include the following countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini.

Red list entry is unrestricted which is why a new Scarlet Red list has been concocted. But those rules are seemingly too strict to be practicable for the U.K. which is why a special “Red Plus” category has been invented for us. Almost identical to how we invented “Amber Plus” for France because throwing them on our Red List would have been too inconvenient.

 

[nw1]

According to the Ministry of the Interior web page:

kernel (20)

Les actualités relatives aux compétences régaliennes de l'institution. La sécurité (intérieure, civile, routière), l'immigration, les collectivités territoriales, les préfectures, les cultes, les élections, sont des exemples des grandes thématiques qui font l'actualité du Ministère.

mobile.interieur.gouv.fr

Red list entry is unrestricted which is why a new Scarlet Red list has been concocted. But those rules are seemingly too strict to be practicable for the U.K. which is why a special “Red Plus” category has been invented for us. Almost identical to how we invented “Amber Plus” for France because throwing them on our Red List would have been too inconvenient.

Ah right OK. Thanks for clearing that up, my original comment was due to someone suggesting that the French government was putting a ban on all 'third countries' (=politicianspeak for non EU/Schengen countries, AFAIK)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jan 2022 ==

I believe they are singling out the UK as only French nationals or residents (or those with compelling reasons) can enter France from the UK. This is according to the UK government website. A temporary exemption has been given to allow those residing in other EU countries to return through France after the Christmas holidays. This was meant to keep omicron at bay! France now has a higher infection rate than the UK!!

Yes, sorry, @Cdd89 clarified this - it isn't all non-EU countries.

 

[Yew]

This was meant to keep omicron at bay! France now has a higher infection rate than the UK!!

We can't let pesky things like facts and evidence get in the way of xenophobia and heavy-handed restrictions.

 

[Mag_seven]

Saw a rumour on the web this morning that the pre departure test requirement for travel to the UK may be scrapped later on this week. I suspect that the "day 2" test once you are in the UK may still stay though.

 

[Yew]

Saw a rumour on the web this morning that the pre departure test requirement for travel to the UK may be scrapped later on this week. I suspect that the "day 2" test once you are in the UK may still stay though.

I'd say that the pre-departure test is probably the more inconvenient one, potentially leading to having to quarantine abroad. It'd be nice if the "day 2" test could be reduced to a lateral flow, too.

 

[Butts]

I'd say that the pre-departure test is probably the more inconvenient one, potentially leading to having to quarantine abroad. It'd be nice if the "day 2" test could be reduced to a lateral flow, too.

That would be enough to get me going again, the fear (and expense) of being stuck abroad is quite a deterrent.

 

[nw1]

Saw a rumour on the web this morning that the pre departure test requirement for travel to the UK may be scrapped later on this week. I suspect that the "day 2" test once you are in the UK may still stay though.

I would say the pre-departure test is the most sensible of the two as it minimises the risk of the virus spreading on aircraft. I agree that it would cause more difficulty if it happens to be positive, though.

With Omicron endemic in the UK and (AFAIK) no other concerning mutations present which are not in the UK, it's harder to understand the rationale for the day 2 test. Changing it to a rapid test would help greatly though, as would removing the re-introduced requirement to isolate until the test result. Also remove the day 8 test for unvaccinated people - that IMO serves little purpose.

And why, if your test result gets lost in the post, do you have to isolate for 14 days rather than the standard 10?

 

[Watershed]

Saw a rumour on the web this morning that the pre departure test requirement for travel to the UK may be scrapped later on this week. I suspect that the "day 2" test once you are in the UK may still stay though.

A step in the right direction. Now we just need the dreaded day 2 test to be scrapped. Sadly it's hard to imagine a point at which you'll ever be able to travel truly restriction-free!

 

[island]

With the ban on eating and drinking coming into effect on French public transport today (intended to address people not wearing a mask but holding an open drink bottle/cup and taking tiny sips every couple of minutes), SNCF staff have been instructed to "show discretion to passengers making very long journeys".

The mask wearing age has been changed from 11+ to 6+ at the same time.

I wonder how long until someone passes out from dehydration.

 

[Yew]

I wonder how long until someone passes out from dehydration.

I wonder how long until we actually see some sort of effect in the data.

 

[102 fan]

With the ban on eating and drinking coming into effect on French public transport today (intended to address people not wearing a mask but holding an open drink bottle/cup and taking tiny sips every couple of minutes), SNCF staff have been instructed to "show discretion to passengers making very long journeys".

The mask wearing age has been changed from 11+ to 6+ at the same time.

I wonder how long until someone passes out from dehydration.

When all this is finally over there's enough material for a book on all the b****y silly, impractical & dangerous rules that this virus has caused.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That would be enough to get me going again, the fear (and expense) of being stuck abroad is quite a deterrent.

It still needs the destination country to accept us though their borders, though...

 

[Butts]

It still needs the destination country to accept us though their borders, though...

Well my last three - Turkey , Albania and Greece are I believe still open to us ?

 

[LAX54]

Hearing a rumour on tv that the pre-departure test requirement before coming back to the UK, will be scrapped again next week

 

[Mag_seven]

Can I request that posters keep this thread free for the discussion of travel restrictions.

For discussion of other European countries response to Covid please use this thread

Austria (and perhaps other European countries?) return to full lockdown

Deleted post. Incorrect information

www.railforums.co.uk

Thanks

 

[island]

From 07•JNR•22, pre-departure and day 2 test rules for England will revert to what they were for most of October and November last year, i.e. pre-departure test will be required only for unvaccinated adults, and day 2 test may be a private LFT for all except unvaccinated adults.

This was announced to Parliament this afternoon.

The devolved nations may update it in due course.

 

[nw1]

From 07•JNR•22, pre-departure and day 2 test rules for England will revert to what they were for most of October and November last year, i.e. pre-departure test will be required only for unvaccinated adults, and day 2 test may be a private LFT for all except unvaccinated adults.

This was announced to Parliament this afternoon.

The devolved nations may update it in due course.

Good to hear - I am out of the country at the moment.

 

[Butts]

Good to hear - I am out of the country at the moment.

Plus the BA Sale is still on - must have a butchers for my next foray abroad.

Just hope that Scotland falls into line !!

 

[LAX54]

From 07•JNR•22, pre-departure and day 2 test rules for England will revert to what they were for most of October and November last year, i.e. pre-departure test will be required only for unvaccinated adults, and day 2 test may be a private LFT for all except unvaccinated adults.

This was announced to Parliament this afternoon.

The devolved nations may update it in due course.

Common sense prevails.....lets hope they stay scrapped, they really do not serve any purpose, apart from stress ! There is no way you can stop any illness / virus arriving,