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Switzerland adds Portugal, Canada to mandatory Covid quarantine list

Switzerland has added several more countries to the mandatory quarantine list, including Portugal, Canada, Nigeria and Japan.

Published: 30 November 2021 09:56 CET

A Swiss airlines plane seen through an airline window

More countries have been added to Switzerland's quarantine list. Photo by Anton Shakirov on Unsplash

Switzerland on Monday added another four including Angola, Australia, Denmark and Zambia.

The countries were added due to concerns surrounding the Omicron variant.

Czech Republic, Egypt, Malawi, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were added on Saturday.

READ MORE: Switzerland imposes quarantine on all arrivals from UK

On Friday, several countries were added to the list including Belgium, Botswana, Eswatini, Hong Kong, Israel, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The official list is available here.

What does it mean to be on the list?

People arriving from these countries need to present a negative test on arrival and must quarantine for ten days. This is the case even if people are vaccinated or have recovered from the virus.

The rule applies to Swiss citizens and residents, as well as visitors.

You also need to do another test between day 4 and day 7, along with informing cantonal authorities.

You also need to fill in the entry form.

READ MORE: Here is the form you need to enter Switzerland

The full list of stipulations is illustrated below.

Image: FOPH

Click here for official government information.

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Travel in Europe: UK to scrap all Covid travel rules

Testing is no longer required for vaccinated travellers, but the UK government has announced that it will scrap all Covid-19 travel rules on Friday, March 18th.

“As one of the first major economies to remove all its remaining Covid-19 travel restrictions, this is a landmark moment for passengers and the travel and aviation sector,” said the Government in a press release.

From 4am on March 18th:

Passengers going to the UK will no longer be required to fill out a Passenger Locator Form before travel;
Passengers who are not vaccinated will not be required to take a pre-departure Covid test, or a Day 2 test following arrival. Fully vaccinated travellers are already exempt from having to do this;
Hotel quarantine for travellers coming from ‘red list’ countries, of which there are currently none, will also be scrapped by the end of the month.

“We will continue monitoring and tracking potential new variants, and keep a reserve of measures which can be rapidly deployed if needed to keep us safe,” said UK Health Minister Sajid Javid.

The UK has lifted all Covid-related rules including mask rules and mandatory self-isolation if you test positive for Covid.

Some European countries still have Covid restrictions in place for unvaccinated people coming from the UK.

Until March 18th

Until the new rules come into effect, all travellers are required to fill out a passenger locator form.

Unvaccinated travellers are also required to take pre-departure test and a test on or before Day 2 following their arrival.

The UK border officers will recognise proof of vaccination provided with an EU Covid Certificate.

For the UK “fully vaccinated” means 14 days after your final dose of a EMA/FDA or Swiss approved vaccine (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson).

After a period of confusion, the UK government says that it will accept mixed doses administered in the EU (eg one dose of AstraZeneca and one of Pfizer).

However people who have only had a single dose after previously recovering from Covid – which is standard practice in some European countries – are not accepted as vaccinated by the UK.

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