Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[nw1]

I agree; I think a significant number are wearing masks for the sole reason that our government is loathed (beyond any rational degree) by a significant number of people, and Boris Johnson told them they no longer had to.

I can understand why people detest this government if I am honest. However my dislike of wanting to prolong the Covid crisis well past its sell-by date trumps that.

 

[yorkie]

In Switzerland people don't wear masks in shops; it felt like a huge step back when I went to the supermarket around midday yesterday in York and half the people were masked.

The only requirement to wear masks in Switzerland is on public transport and once that expires at the end of this month, I don't think you will see many people wearing them there.

Basel airport was dystopian, as the French are in control, even in the 'Swiss sector'; an authoritarian woman with an exposed nose was telling people to put masks on.

I would advise people considering going to Europe to avoid Germany, France etc and go to Switzerland instead; from next month onwards it should be a very good experience as you won't have to wear masks anywhere. There is also no need to complete a passenger locator form, nor any requirement to take a test or anything. I'd recommend flying to somewhere like Geneva or Zurich to avoid the dystopian authoritarianism that is rife in France.

 

[westv]

I read earlier today that Spain intends to lift the requirement for masks indoors "very soon" and that Greece will start to lift its covid restrictions from mid March with hopes fort a "more normal" Easter.

 

[Watershed]

I read earlier today that Spain intends to lift the requirement for masks indoors "very soon" and that Greece will start to lift its covid restrictions from mid March with hopes fort a "more normal" Easter.

Great news. The true question will be whether, as per several other countries, there's an asterisk to that and masks are kept on public transport for an interim period.

 

[kevin_roche]

I read earlier today that Spain intends to lift the requirement for masks indoors "very soon" and that Greece will start to lift its covid restrictions from mid March with hopes fort a "more normal" Easter.

Thank you for the update. I'm going to Spain in a couple of weeks. I'm about to print out a Vaccination Certificate and I know I have to fill out their arrival form in the day or two before. is there anything else I should know?

 

[island]

Disneyland Paris will imminently announce the removal of all mask requirements for guests except in shuttle buses (where they're still required by law).

 

[Cdd89]

Disneyland Paris will imminently announce the removal of all mask requirements for guests except in shuttle buses

While this is well overdue both indoor and outdoor, it beggars belief that it wasn’t done for outdoors first.

That shows it wasn’t just a question of ‘lower risk tolerance’, but a completely illogical attitude to risk.

 

[Howardh]

Thank you for the update. I'm going to Spain in a couple of weeks. I'm about to print out a Vaccination Certificate and I know I have to fill out their arrival form in the day or two before. is there anything else I should know?

If you haven't been recently; the situation is this (for someone fully vaxxed + booster) - fill in Spain's locator form, show evidence of vaccination on entry. On leaving, fill in UK locator form.
So no need for day 2 + testing coming home.

 

[Cdd89]

the situation is this (for someone fully vaxxed + booster) - fill in Spain's locator form, show evidence of vaccination on entry

…and accept the chance of being escorted for a random antigen test upon arrival, with the risk of isolation in poor conditions if positive.

Spain is off my list, personally.

 

[westv]

…and accept the chance of being escorted for a random antigen test upon arrival, with the risk of isolation in poor conditions if positive.

Spain is off my list, personally.

Do we know how many people have failed the random entry test?

 

[A60stock]

does anyone know if the ban on unvaxxed to enter Spain/Tenerife (other than essential reasons) will be lifted soon? In addition, any other restrictions on unvaxxed once in the country?

 

[Howardh]

…and accept the chance of being escorted for a random antigen test upon arrival, with the risk of isolation in poor conditions if positive.

Spain is off my list, personally.

Never heard of that, they do a temperature test and maybe "escort' them away for a further test if they have a high temperature?
Been to Spain 3 times now and had no issues whatsoever, much easier than countries nearer home

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

does anyone know if the ban on unvaxxed to enter Spain/Tenerife (other than essential reasons) will be lifted soon? In addition, any other restrictions on unvaxxed once in the country?

No ban, just need negative PCR currently?

 

[A60stock]

Never heard of that, they do a temperature test and maybe "escort' them away for a further test if they have a high temperature?
Been to Spain 3 times now and had no issues whatsoever, much easier than countries nearer home

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


No ban, just need negative PCR currently?

I thought you cannot travel there as per the travel rules listed on Gov.co.uk's website. Unless I have missed something?

Any links to sources appreciated!

 

[westv]

Jet2 have now removed their mask mandate for passengers although they still "suggest" their use.

 

[Cdd89]

Never heard of that, they do a temperature test and maybe "escort' them away for a further test if they have a high temperature?

I’m not sure if you read the article in the first link, but it’s pretty clear that this was mandatory random (or flight targeted) testing; not a follow up to symptoms:

They asked where we were arriving from, and when we told them Miami, they put us both in a “holding pen” of sorts, and told us we’d have to be tested for coronavirus.

This isn’t an official requirement (I had checked all the entry requirements), but presumably they have the right to randomly select people for testing

I’m sure that 90%+ of the time there will be no test; free testing for every inbound traveller isn’t affordable. However, that first hand account (from a reliable source) is a concern.

 

[AlterEgo]

Sweden has masks nowhere - I've barely seen one in the three days I've spent here. Flew down from Lulea, unmasked, earlier.

 

[scarby]

Sweden has masks nowhere - I've barely seen one in the three days I've spent here. Flew down from Lulea, unmasked, earlier.

They have never been worn widely, though there was a bit of an increase last winter and again this winter around December-January.

I've never felt any social pressure to wear one in Sweden, in fact the opposite - people who wore them in some situations, such as in bars, even tended to be stared at, and in my experience they were always visitors from another country.

Hope you are having a good trip.

 

[kristiang85]

The UK would have been like that had we stuck to Whitty's first pronounement that they were a waste of time and resources. Sadly we went down the other route...

 

[Eyersey468]

The UK would have been like that had we stuck to Whitty's first pronounement that they were a waste of time and resources. Sadly we went down the other route...

I think the reason for that was other places mandated them and Boris didn't want to be seen to be doing things differently

 

[kristiang85]

I think the reason for that was other places mandated them and Boris didn't want to be seen to be doing things differently

Well yes clearly (which is ironic given how he's spent his entire premiership doing exactly the opposite of wanting to do that the Europeans are doing), but Sweden showed what we could have been.

But for Boris, #grannykiller #plagueisland obviously had a lot of effect...

 

[Eyersey468]

Well yes clearly (which is ironic given how he's spent his entire premiership doing exactly the opposite of wanting to do that the Europeans are doing), but Sweden showed what we could have been.

But for Boris, #grannykiller #plagueisland obviously had a lot of effect...

I agree it is ironic

 

[island]

France will drop all domestic requirements for CovidPasses from 14•MCH•22. From the same date masks will no longer be a legal requirement in public places with the exception of public transport and healthcare settings.

 

[Ediswan]

France will drop all domestic requirements for CovidPasses from 14•MCH•22. From the same date masks will no longer be a legal requirement in public places with the exception of public transport and healthcare settings.

Thanks. I am being pressed to decide yes/no to joining a trip to France in May. That makes it 'yes'.

 

[D6130]

From 1st March, Italy has allowed all fully-vaccinated or recently-recovered travellers from non-EU countries to enter the country without the additional need for a negative Covid test. Any of a vaccination certificate, certificate of recovery or a negative test result will allow extra-EU arrivals entry into Italy without any quarantine requirement - so unvaccinated travellers and those not recovered from Covid-19 will be able to enter the country with just proof of a negative test. Passengers can present certificates of recovery, vaccination or testing in digital or paper format. All arrivals will still have to complete a digital passenger locator form.

 

[joncombe]

From 1st March, Italy has allowed all fully-vaccinated or recently-recovered travellers from non-EU countries to enter the country without the additional need for a negative Covid test.

Not sure that's entirely true. I think Sicily is still demanding a test on arrival?

 

[D6130]

Not sure that's entirely true. I think Sicily is still demanding a test on arrival?

OK, that may be true. I was quoting from "The Local, Italy" - an English Language on-line magazine for visitors and ex-pats, to which I subscribe.

 

[Yew]

France will drop all domestic requirements for CovidPasses from 14•MCH•22. From the same date masks will no longer be a legal requirement in public places with the exception of public transport and healthcare settings.

I still find public transport confusing, unmasked in a euroclub is fine, but a half empty TGV is somehow not..

 

[D6700]

Until today, Germany had a long list of "high risk" countries, which required the completion of a passenger locator. That list is now empty, although they may put countries back on it as the situation evolves.

I discovered this change when preparing to fill in the form for arriving on Sunday from Austria. Last night, it was still required, but I wasn't able to do it until today, as it could only be done three days in advance. Today, it ceased to be required for my journey, so I dropped lucky.

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/ne...travel-to-germany-to-be-applied-from-march-3/

 

[Butts]

Until today, Germany had a long list of "high risk" countries, which required the completion of a passenger locator. That list is now empty, although they may put countries back on it as the situation evolves.

I discovered this change when preparing to fill in the form for arriving on Sunday from Austria. Last night, it was still required, but I wasn't able to do it until today, as it could only be done three days in advance. Today, it ceased to be required for my journey, so I dropped lucky.

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/ne...travel-to-germany-to-be-applied-from-march-3/

I didn't get any further than LHR on my German trip from Edinburgh last weekend

 

[nw1]

Well yes clearly (which is ironic given how he's spent his entire premiership doing exactly the opposite of wanting to do that the Europeans are doing), but Sweden showed what we could have been.

But for Boris, #grannykiller #plagueisland obviously had a lot of effect...

The ironic thing is that these sorts of accusations ('granny killer', too soft on lockdown, etc) are one of the few accusations against Johnson which I would consider unfair.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Mar 2022 ==

I didn't get any further than LHR on my German trip from Edinburgh last weekend

What happened, was this Covid related or something else? Weather related? Weather was certainly very benign here last weekend.