Angela Merkel calls on EU nations to force UK travellers to quarantine
Make Britons isolate! Angela Merkel calls on EU nations to force UK travellers to quarantine because of high levels of Indian Covid variant
- German Chancellor urged EU nations to require travellers coming from countries with high Delta variant prevalence – such as Britain – to quarantine
- Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless, with some exceptions
- Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for UK arrivals
Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers’ plans to reopen foreign travel.
The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine.
Mrs Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament: ‘In our country, if you come from Great Britain you have to go into quarantine – and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see.’
Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers’ plans to reopen foreign travel. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the Second Berlin Conference on Libya, in Berlin, Germany on June 23, 2021
Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an ‘urgent humanitarian reason’ like a family death.
But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.
It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.
Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.
A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.
Mrs Merkel’s call came ahead of the Government today being expected to announce plans for fully vaccinated Britons to be able to visit amber countries without having to self-isolate for ten days on return.
The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine
It is expected to take effect in August, although some ministers are pushing for this to be brought forward to July 19. The move will effectively turn destinations that are amber into green for fully vaccinated people.
But if other European countries listen to Mrs Merkel’s call then UK holidaymakers’ options could be limited even further this summer.
Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine. France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.
But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent.
This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain.