TOURISTS driving through any quarantined country must isolate for 14 days back in the UK – but they can dodge it if they don’t get out of the car.
After Belgium was added to the list of nations which means people have to stay home for two weeks to stop the spread of the bug, many were left confused about whether they had to if they were just passing through.
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The Department for Transport has confirmed that anyone who gets a connecting plane or train in the country must also isolate.
Brits driving through are exempt only if they don’t get out of the car and mix with other people. Stopping for a breather while driving is allowed – but only if you don’t mix with others outside your household in your break.
The Department said in a statement: “If you travelled from Germany or the Netherlands through Belgium, unless all passengers remained in the car and no-one got out or in for the entire time while transiting through Belgium, you need to self-isolate.”
Rail travellers returning to or arriving in the UK on journeys which include a stop in Belgium will also need to quarantine unless no new passengers boarded the train and no-one left it before getting back on.
This means Eurostar passengers travelling from Amsterdam to London will need to self-isolate, as the journey involves a change of trains in Brussels.
Today it was feared that France could be next on the list of quarantine countries after a rise in cases there.
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Full list of countries with unrestricted travel
Europe
Austria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France (overseas territories of France are listed separately, where included in the exemption)
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Malta
Monaco
The Netherlands (not including the constituent countries and special municipalities located in the Dutch Caribbean)
Norway
Poland
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
Turkey
Americas
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba
Barbados
Bermuda
Canada
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Curaçao
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Jamaica
Martinique
South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Maarten
St Martin and St Barthélemy
St Pierre and Miquelon
St Vincent and The Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Asia-Pacific
Australia
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei
Cambodia
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Hong Kong
Japan
Laos
Macao
Malaysia
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Samoa
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Africa
Reunion
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Antarctica
British Antarctic Territory
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But Government sources stressed that no changes were imminent, though it was being closely monitored.
Rishi Sunak today refused to rule out France being added to the coronavirus quarantine list and warned that ministers “won’t hesitate” to take drastic action if needed.
The Chancellor told holidaymakers “there is always the risk of disruption” during the pandemic when asked whether France may be the next nation to face new rules.
