Belgium, Andorra and Bahamas have been added to the UK quarantine list - here’s why

Travellers arrivng in the UK from Belgium will now be required to quarantine for 14 days (Getty Images)Travellers arrivng in the UK from Belgium will now be required to quarantine for 14 days (Getty Images)
Travellers arrivng in the UK from Belgium will now be required to quarantine for 14 days (Getty Images)

Travellers arriving in the UK from Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

The new measure comes into place from Saturday 8 August, except in Wales where the restriction is already in place. 

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The trio of countries follow Spain and Luxembourg in having a quarantine reimposed, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warning against “all but essential travel” to the three countries. 

When do the measures get underway? 

The Transport Secretary revealed the changes on Thursday night. 

He tweeted: “Data shows we need to remove Andorra, Belgium and the Bahamas from our list of [coronavirus] travel corridors in order to keep infection rates DOWN.

"If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days."

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Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousuf said there was “a shared understanding” between all home nations that the measures were required. 

Wales have already implemented the quarantine restrictions. 

The measures apply to anyone travelling through Belgium on their return from other European or World destinations.

Why have the measures been introduced? 

Belgium has seen a rise in cases in recent weeks with data showing 27.8 new cases per 100,000 people compared to UK’s 8.4. 

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The weekly case rate has spiked in The Bahamas at 77.8, while Andorra has seen a five-fold increase in cases since mid-July. 

According to the Guardian measures could be introduced for France amid a rise in cases. 

Are there any new travel corridors?

UK travellers have been told it is now safe to travel to Malaysia and Brunei following a significant dip in cases. 

Vaughan Gething, the Welsh health minister said the public health risk posed by a decreasing prevalence was now low enough to open up a travel corridor to the southeast Asian countries. 

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