UK’s Quarantine Free List: Five More Countries Added

Summary

• This makes the total number of quarantine-free regions to 80, Britons returning back home from any of these do not have to undergo a compulsive self-isolation for 14 days
• Spain was removed from the country’s quarantine-free travel list on 26 July 2020
• Johnson has warned of a second wave of corona infections across Europe
• Airlines revise their refund policies for flights to Spain, after the Government decision

Britishers coming back from five additional nations can safely do so without having to self-isolate for two weeks. These are Estonia, Grenadines, Lithuania and St Vincent, Slovakia, Slovenia, and St Vincent. This update was made effective from 28 July 2020.

According to the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), there are currently 80 nations or regions where Britons can freely go on a holiday without any need to self-isolate for two weeks, once they return.

For all other countries not on this list, there is a need to self-isolate for two weeks once you arrive in Britain using any of these transport mediums – air, coach, ferry or train. The exemption list may be changed depending on coronavirus infection updates. For instance, there are speculations that France and Germany could be removed from the list, if the flu infections continue to rise there.

Spain was earlier on the list but was removed from it on 26 July 2020, due to a rising number of coronavirus infections in the country.

Once you reach your destination, you need to follow the coronavirus related safety guidelines of that particular country.

Boris Johnson has cautioned that there are signs of rising infections across Europe

The British PM defended the government’s decision to remove Spain from the safe corridor list. He said that some regions across Europe are indeed witnessing a second wave of the Covid-19 infections.

However, the airline industry tends to suffer losses with such sudden announcements or updates to the exemption list. For instance, Jet2 airline remarked that they were not given any prior notice.   

Also Read: Impact of Coronavirus:  Travel and Tourism Industry on A Slow Path to Recovery  

On the other hand, the daily number of coronavirus infections across Britain continue to go down steadily, beginning April 2020. Total number of confirmed infections were 300,692 on 28 July 2020, with the daily infections for the day at 581. The total number of corona related deaths in the country have crossed 45,000.

In the Great Britain region, the nation with the highest rate of corona infections per every one lakh residents is Wales (with the rate of 547.1).

Also Read: Companies Should Devise A Plan To Counter Second Wave Of Infections: Alert From The PM

Airlines revise their refund policies for flights to Spain, after the Government decision

UK government’s latest advice for Spain says only travel for an essential purpose, all non-essential travel should be avoided. Else, the travelers have to face a two-week quarantine on return.

Holiday goers from Britain are therefore scared now, and asking travel companies to refund their money. Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair, and TUI have updated their air-ticket money refund policy in this regard.

Easyjet will continue to operate its due flights to Spain, and had not announced any cancellations. It would also be giving an option of change of flight, without charging any fee, in case the travelers wish to change their flights.

The company stock (LON: EZJ) was trading at GBX 542.00 on 29 July 2020, at 2:20 PM, down by 0.70 per cent from its previous close. The 52-week low/high price was GBX 475.00 / 1,552.00. It had a market capitalisation (Mcap) of £2,492.94 million. The volume traded at the time of reporting was 1,730,795. The company recorded a negative return on price, which was 61.83 per cent on a YTD (Year to Date) basis.

Jet2 airline is suspending its flights to the regions of Alicante, Costa de Almeria, Malaga, and Murcia in Spain from 28 July 2020 to 16 August 2020. The company has kept the window of a full refund open. On a case to case basis.

Ryanair said that travelers could request for a change of flight, but any refund was not available. However, the change of flight service was available free of cost.

The company stock (LON: RYA) was trading at GBX 10.85 on 29 July 2020, at 2:26 PM, down by 2.65 per cent from its previous close. The 52-week low/high price was GBX 8.14 / 16.10. It had a market capitalisation (Mcap) of £ 11,002.43 million. The volume traded at the time of reporting was 673,954. The company recorded a negative return on price, which was 25.36 per cent on a YTD (Year to Date) basis.

TUI has cancelled all its flights to Balearic Islands and Canary Islands during the period of 28 to 31 July 2020. Flights to mainland Spain also stand cancelled between 26 July and 9 August 2020. The company is giving an option of a cash refund along with the service of a holiday rebooking.

The company stock (LON: TUI) was trading at GBX 323.00 on 29 July 2020, at 2:30 PM, UP by 1.16 per cent from its previous close. The 52-week low/high price was GBX 254.00 / 1,081.50. It had a market capitalisation (Mcap) of £ 1,882.51 million. The volume traded at the time of reporting was 1,014,606. The company recorded a negative return on price, which was 67.76 per cent on a YTD (Year to Date) basis.

Also Read: Restriction by UK government on travel plans to Spain may have a wider impact

As a summary, while the UK government has added 5 more regions to the list of safe countries to travel, the return from which does not require a compulsory two-week quarantine. However, the rate of growth of coronavirus infections continues to change across regions, and the UK government has to swiftly act to make changes to its quarantine-free travel list accordingly. Corona infections in the UK continue to go down steadily on a daily basis. However, it is suspected that the infections could rise in the winter months, and more precaution and alertness could therefore be needed in times to come.