UK quarantine rules lifted for travellers from dozens of destinations

Quarantine rules for people returning to or visiting the UK from certain countries will be relaxed today.

The UK Government has published a list of 76 countries and territories from which people arriving into England will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days.

This includes Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

The US, Thailand and China are among the notable names not to appear. Portugal is also not on the list.

Passengers will still be required to provide contact information on arrival in England.

The full list of countries is as follows:

Andorra

Antigua and Barbuda

Aruba

Austria

Australia

Bahamas

Barbados

Belgium

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Croatia

Curaçao

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Dominica

Faroe Islands

Fiji

Finland

France

French Polynesia

Germany

Greece

Greenland

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macau

Malta

Mauritius

Monaco

Netherlands

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Réunion

San Marino

Serbia

Seychelles

South Korea

Spain

St Barthélemy

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Pierre and Miquelon

Switzerland

Taiwan

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey

Vatican City

Vietnam

The list of countries exempt from the 14-day quarantine rules will also apply in Wales, while Northern Ireland said there will be quarantine requirement for those travelling from low to medium-risk countries.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has produced a list of 39 countries, which does not include Spain.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the “difficult decision” had been driven by the evidence in relation to the prevalence of coronavirus.

It comes as UK holidaymakers are being urged by the Government to avoid travelling on cruise ships.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued a statement on Thursday advising people not to embark on sailings due to the pandemic.

It comes after the blanket advice against all non-essential foreign travel was lifted for dozens of destinations on Saturday.

The FCO pledged to "continue to review" its position on cruises, which is “based on medical advice” from Public Health England.

While Labour welcomed the relaxation of the quarantine, it criticised the Government for failing to set up so-called air bridges to other countries.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said that workers and holidaymakers were paying the price of the Government’s failure to act.

"The fact they have been unable to negotiate air bridges is an indictment of their failure to tackle the crisis at home," he said.

"They were too slow to take lockdown, too slow to order PPE (personal protective equipment) and too slow to protect our country.

"Labour has consistently called for a sectoral deal that supports the whole aviation industry including the supply chain based on our six conditions.

"Tory ministers have failed to act and workers are paying the price and trips are being cancelled."

For people choosing to shun holidays to stay at home in England, swimming pools, gyms and outdoor arts performances were given the green light to reopen in the latest easing of the lockdown.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said outdoor pools will be able to reopen from Saturday to be followed by indoor pools, gyms and other sports facilities from July 25.

Theatres, opera, dance and music will also be able to resume outdoors from the weekend although audience numbers will be restricted and will be subject to social-distancing rules.

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