BREAKING: UK quarantines all arrivals from Denmark with immediate effect. Germany and Sweden given an extra day
Starting 4am UK time on Friday 6th November 2020, Denmark will be removed from the Travel Corridor countries, or in another words all arrivals from Denmark will require the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
England is currently in lockdown, allowing few arrivals and departures so in reality this will not affect many people. But with mutations of the coronavirus detected in minks over in the Scandinavian country, it shows a more speedy reaction to control the situation than we have previously seen.
The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said:
I have taken the swift decision to urgently remove Denmark from the government’s travel corridor list as a precautionary measure given recent developments
I understand that this will be concerning for both people currently in Denmark and the wider UK public, which is why we have moved quickly to protect our country and prevent the spread of the virus to the UK.
Health authorities in Denmark have reported widespread outbreaks of coronavirus (COVID-19) in mink farms, with a variant strain of the virus spreading to some local communities. The Chief Medical Officer has therefore recommended that, as precautionary measure, all those returning from Denmark should self-isolate for 14 days.
People currently in Denmark may finish their trip, follow the local rules and check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice pages on GOV.UK for further information.
While new lockdown rules mean leaving home in order to travel for holidays is no longer permitted, the government’s travel corridor policy remains a critical part of the government’s COVID-19 response as it mitigates the risk of importing infections from abroad.
Meanwhile Germany and Sweden will be removed from the Travel Corridor from 4am on 7th November 2020.
You can keep up to date with the Travel Corridor list, and any travel regulations here.
And on and on we go. What’s the end game?
The virus is never going away. It’s here to stay. You can get reinfected too. Is the world locked down permanently? Is the will of humanity to be broken?
I’m not a virologist so cannot offer comment on transmissibility, mutability etc., but to think some countries like Taiwan, New Zealand etc., have gotten things under control while others like UK haven’t still hurts.