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People from the UAE who want to visit England for the summer can now self-isolate at home after the UK added the country to its amber list.
From August 8, passengers do not have to complete paid mandatory hotel quarantine. Instead, they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, taking pre-booked PCR tests on day two and day eight. This is compulsory.
There is also an option to escape part of the 10-day quarantine with a Covid-19 test on day five that comes back negative.
Travellers coming from countries with amber status who have been fully vaccinated with inoculations approved and administered in the UK, EU and US do not have to quarantine, but must provide a negative Covid-19 test within two days of arrival.
Any traveller inoculated in the UAE, therefore, will have to follow the 10-day self-isolation rules.
The UAE will move to the amber list at 4am UK time on August 8. If a passenger arrives in England before then, they must follow the red list rules. If UAE residents visited a red country in the ten days before arriving into England they must also enter hotel quarantine. Here is The National's guide to the new travel rules.
Amber list rules:
- If you have been in an amber list country in the 10 days before you arrive in England you must:
- Take a Covid-19 test in the three days before you travel to England; pre-book and pay for Covid-19 tests (in England) before you travel, to be taken on day two and day eight after arrival in England; and complete a passenger locator form.
Steps to follow after arrival in England:
- Quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days – the day of arrival is counted as day zero.
- Then take a Covid-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight.
Option to 'test to release' early:
- Travellers entering England from the UAE can end quarantine early using the "test to release" scheme.
- Under this system, people can pay for a private Covid-19 test on day five. If the result is negative (and the result of your day two test was negative or inconclusive), you can end your quarantine.
- However, you must still book and take your mandatory day two and day eight travel tests, even if your "test to release" result is negative.
Rules for fully UK vaccinated and people under the age of 18:
- You do not need to quarantine or take a day eight test after you arrive in England if you are either: fully vaccinated in the UK or under the UK vaccine programme overseas; under 18 on the day you arrive in England and resident in the UK or in a country with a vaccination programme approved by the UK; or part of a UK-approved vaccine trial.
- You still need to book and take a day two test.
Amber list rules if fully vaccinated in Europe or the USA:
- If you have been fully vaccinated in the United States or many European countries, you will not need to quarantine when you arrive in England or take a day eight test.
- However, you still need to book and take a day two test
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People walk along a platform on the London Underground. -
People walk along Oxford Street in central London. England lifted most Covid-19 restrictions on July 19. -
Participants run across Westminster Bridge in London during the Asics London 10km marathon. -
Festival-goers watch Wolf Alice perform at Latitude Festival at Henham Park. -
A person wearing a protective face shield and face mask walks through Oxford Circus in London. -
The Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle takes place for the first time since the start of the pandemic. -
Festival-goers wait to receive a vaccine on board a bus at the Latitude Festival. -
Empty shelves in a supermarket in London. Brexit lorry shortages combined with large numbers of retail staff isolating have cause shortages of household staples in parts of the UK . -
Demonstrators hold up banners as they listen to speeches during a "Rally for freedom" protest in London.
Where can I quarantine?
- You must quarantine at the address you provided on the passenger locator form.
- This can include staying in your own home with friends or family or in a standard hotel or other temporary accommodation.
- You should stay in a well ventilated room with an outside window that can be opened, separate from other people in your home.
How to self-isolate
As per NHS UK rules, you must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.
- Do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can
- Do not go on public transport or use taxis
- Do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
- Do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
- Do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one
