Portugal travellers must quarantine in UK hotel before island return

Friday 12 February 2021

Anyone travelling through the UK from countries on their 'red list' - which includes Portugal - will need to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days before returning to Jersey.

The new rules, introduced this week, will see travellers who have passed through a country on the list have to book themselves into a managed quarantine hotel in the UK.

Travellers will also be tested either before, or on, Day 2 of their arrival, as well as on Day 8 or afterwards.

Though those coming back from places not on the list will not have to quarantine in an assigned hotel, the Government has emphasised that they should still take precaution to self-isolate for however long they are waiting in the UK during the transit.

Pictured: The new rules will mean anyone who has travelled from a country deemed 'red list' will have to isolate for 10 days.

A Government of Jersey spokesperson said: "The new mandatory hotel quarantine requirements introduced by the UK for anyone arriving from 33 high-risk international jurisdictions, or those who have passed through these countries within the previous ten days, will apply to passengers flying back to Jersey via the UK.

"This has been confirmed by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care and applies to transit passengers.

"Transit journeys to Jersey from countries that are not on the red-list will be permitted through the UK without quarantine, but passengers must self-isolate in line with UK national lockdown guidance for the duration of their transit, including any overnight stays.

"There are no quarantine requirements for passengers arriving in the UK from Jersey because of the arrangements for the Common Travel Area.  All passengers arriving in Jersey from any jurisdiction must isolate until they receive a Day 10 negative PCR test."

The rules will pose a difficulty to Jersey's significant Portuguese population. Express has asked the Government if it will be offering any further support or advice to them in light of the new UK quarantine rule, and is awaiting a response.

The full UK red list...

Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.