Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[kingston_toon]

It's the same in Switzerland

France and Germany are best avoided.

Does anyone have any idea what the situation will be like in Spain in 4 weeks time? I am hoping they will have seen sense on things like masks by then.

We had a very pleasant trip to Madrid over the weekend. On the way down and back (easyJet) I was able to spend most of each flight mask-free by always having a beer in my hand. Masks are no longer required at Gatwick Airport and fewer than 50% were wearing them - even lower amongst security and Wetherspoon staff!

There was a bit of a wait to enter Spain due to "health control" before passports - the actual bit after where medical staff scan the QR code was quick. Madrid airport still feels like Spring 2020 with posters and announcements everywhere, social distancing still a thing, stickers, arrows, screens etc. Out in the city, masks are no longer mandatory outside, but I would estimate 50-75% of people are still wearing them, depending on setting. Often couples would be one masked and one not! Pubs and bars were busy with no capacity limits - masks required to walk in / out but not when drinking, even if stood at the bar. Public transport felt as busy as pre-Covid. Mask compliance almost 100% on every journey (the odd nose poking out etc).

Obviously things may change in the next month but it was a great trip even now.

 

[greyman42]

Pubs and bars were busy with no capacity limits - masks required to walk in / out but not when drinking, even if stood at the bar.

Regarding the wearing of masks to entry and exit, that is absolutely pointless, unless someone can point out otherwise?

 

[kevin_roche]

Regarding the wearing of masks to entry and exit, that is absolutely pointless, unless someone can point out otherwise?

I think if you were infected and wearing a mask as you went in you might just not infect someone near the door. It seems marginal to me, but what do I know?

 

[Richard Scott]

I think if you were infected and wearing a mask as you went in you might just not infect someone near the door. It seems marginal to me, but what do I know?

You definitely wouldn't, not enough exposure time.

 

[island]

Regarding the wearing of masks to entry and exit, that is absolutely pointless, unless someone can point out otherwise?

Total virtue signal, but mask debates have got lots of threads closed and I would not like this to join them

Belgium has abolished domestic use of CovidPasses (or COVID Safe Tickets as they call them). They were previously required to access bars, restaurants, fitness centres, and large events.

 

[EssexGonzo]

I have been in France since the 16th Jan this year, in a ski resort.

On arrival, masks and the requirement to show the Pass Sanitaire (Covid pass app) were pretty much 100% observed. In restaurants, enclosed ski lifts and supermarkets.

Having been to France several times in the last couple of years, I always thought that the French had struck a workable, pragmatic approach.

Over the last couple of week, however, this has begun to wane. More than 50% of travellers in the telecabines are now not wearing masks (mostly French, and not English as was my initial assumption) and over the last two weeks, more restaurants have NOT asked for the Pass Sanitaire than those that have.

It would seem that compliance is waning with the future promise of relaxation of the rules.

Oh, and arriving at Geneva airport last Sunday to collect my visiting son and his friends, I discovered that the Swiss no longer require masks indoors with the exception of public transport.

 

[102 fan]

Just curious, but will all the Ukrainian refugees be obliged to take a covid test?

 

[island]

Just curious, but will all the Ukrainian refugees be obliged to take a covid test?

They have been exempted.

 

[102 fan]

They have been exempted.

Time to drop tests for everyone then......

 

[Howardh]

While technically not "abroad", Jersey is now back on my go-to list, it escaped my attention that ALL travel restrictions (covid) were lifted on Feb 7th; https://www.gov.je/health/coronavirus/travel/pages/coronavirustraveladvice.aspx

From Monday 7 February, all requirements under the Safer Travel Policy will be suspended. I'm assuming this applies now to all the Channel Islands and possibly the Isle of Man?

Any passengers arriving on or after 7 February:
do not need to complete pre-travel registration
do not need to undergo testing or isolate on arrival
Border requirements on arrival in Jersey will be as they were before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension of the Safer Travel Policy will remain under review.

 

[Ediswan]

I'm assuming this applies now to all the Channel Islands and possibly the Isle of Man?

Jersey rules only apply to Jersey.

 

[LAX54]

You definitely wouldn't, not enough exposure time.

less than 2 metres for more than 15 mins, was the original (WHO) 'rule' don't think that ever changed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2022 ==

They have been exempted.

and the Russians

 

[Howardh]

Jersey rules only apply to Jersey.

Thanks, I've actually just booked a flight and hotel there for May!

Not expecting any covid checks at all, so this should be my first flight/holiday "abroad" without any covid bureaucracy whatsoever. On top of that, I think there's no need to go through immigration at either end (being a Common Travel Area trip) so that just leaves getting through security at Manchester Airport...ah, normality!!

 

[Watershed]

Austria has now abandoned its insupportable policy of mandatory vaccination, finally admitting that "the law’s encroachment of fundamental rights could no longer be justified by the danger posed ... we see no need to actually implement this compulsory vaccination due to the [Omicron] variant that we are predominantly experiencing here".

It's not as if that was foreseeable 4 months ago or anything!

 

[zero]

While technically not "abroad", Jersey is now back on my go-to list, it escaped my attention that ALL travel restrictions (covid) were lifted on Feb 7th; https://www.gov.je/health/coronavirus/travel/pages/coronavirustraveladvice.aspx

From Monday 7 February, all requirements under the Safer Travel Policy will be suspended. I'm assuming this applies now to all the Channel Islands and possibly the Isle of Man?

I think Guernsey lifted some restrictions in January (before England), but they forced arrivals to pay for LFTs until 17 Feb.

The Isle of Man will lift restrictions on 31 March, but if you are vaccinated there haven't been any real restrictions for some time.

 

[Howardh]

I think Guernsey lifted some restrictions in January (before England), but they forced arrivals to pay for LFTs until 17 Feb.

The Isle of Man will lift restrictions on 31 March, but if you are vaccinated there haven't been any real restrictions for some time.

After easter I'll be looking at the travel details for both IoM and Guernsey plus Alderney; already booked Jersey and the IoM is handy for a day out if there are sufficient flights.

 

[Merseysider]

I was in Germany over the weekend.

Stansted Airport and on the plane: Nobody gave a damn about social distancing nor masks

Frankfurt Airport, train stations, train etc, shops, almost 100% masked. However, I wasn’t asked for proof of my covid jabs anywhere.

Presented my covid pass alongside my passport at Frankfurt and the bloke at border control couldn’t have been less interested in it

The hotel in theory required to see it but they weren’t interested in the slightest either.

Besides the mask requirements, these are promising developments.

I’ll probably wait until the summer to visit again, assuming masks are gone. It gets very itchy when you have a beard to wear the FFP2/3 masks for hours on end.

 

[route101]

What countries in Europe still require a pre departure test?

 

[rvdborgt]

What countries in Europe still require a pre departure test?

No idea, but you can look at reopen.europa.eu to check. Requirements change often and with little notice, so I only check shortly before I travel myself.

 

[Howardh]

Good news r/e Gibraltar, no testing and no locator forms required as from the end of this week. Bad news is I've already booked jersey, so Gib will have to wait until September or later. I never travel during the school hols!

 

[92002]

I am not sure what purpose it ever served, never mind about now when most restrictions have been abolished.

When I returned from France last November, the only check was from Eurostar staff to see that I actually had a form.

No-one checked the details on the form, especially the French and UK immigration staff.

I have seen reports that the UK passenger locator form will be abolished in time for the Easter holidays.

However that is over a month away, and there really is no need to wait that long.

The requirement to complete a PLF, as well as taking a COVID test, has been abolished for journeys starting in Russia or Ukraine.

There are obvious humanitarian reasons for this, as acceptance of refugees from the war in Ukraine is rightly seen as more important than worrying about whether they have COVID.

But if that is the case for Russia and Ukraine, then surely similar logic can be applied to everywhere else in the world, given that most adults in the UK have a good level of immunity from vaccination or previous infection.

Just came through the Brussels Eurostar terminal. No locator form, no entry to the terminal. Many security staff with not a great deal being done. Computer problems and boarding delayed by 15 minutes. So a late start to the train. Not too many passengers so a simple paper check probably quicker.

 

[1D54]

PLF requirements for ruturning to the UK are being scrapped on March 18th.

 

[Butts]

PLF requirements for ruturning to the UK are being scrapped on March 18th.

About time - after nearly a year perhaps time to put my thread to bed. (with a mask of course )

 

[island]

PLF requirements for ruturning to the UK are being scrapped on March 18th.

Well, for England at any rate.

 

[Watershed]

About time - after nearly a year perhaps time to put my thread to bed. (with a mask of course )

I think there is still value in keeping it to discuss restrictions abroad, which unfortunately look to continue for some time yet (and, dare I say it, there is always the prospect of a return to restrictions here).

 

[greyman42]

I think there is still value in keeping it to discuss restrictions abroad, which unfortunately look to continue for some time yet (and, dare I say it, there is always the prospect of a return to restrictions here).

Well as far as i can see there is no prospect for a return to restrictions unless i am missing something?

 

[Watershed]

Well as far as i can see there is no prospect for a return to restrictions unless i am missing something?

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.

 

[yorkie]

Well as far as i can see there is no prospect for a return to restrictions unless i am missing something?

If a new variant of particular concern was identified, the Government may try to delay it's introduction by imposing restrictions from locations where it is identified.

Such restrictions wouldn't really achieve anything but that doesn't mean they can be guaranteed not to happen.

 

[rvdborgt]

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).

 

[zero]

What are the mask rules in Croatia and do people comply?

On another forum it was reported that compliance in Zagreb was high then dropped progressively the further away you went from the capital. But that was when the Omicron peak was starting and it is now over.

Has anyone been more recently?