Quarantine Measures to Ski Countries

28th September 2020

Last modified on May 20th, 2021

People who have visited the UK in the past 10 days will be required to quarantine for 10 days on entry to Switzerland.

Switzerland has added many new countries and areas this week to its list as covid-19 spreads.

Parts of Austria, France and one region in Italy are also now on its list.

The UK introduced a quarantine for people coming from Switzerland at the end of August.

Switzerland Placed on UK Quarantine List

The UK also requires people coming from the European ski countries of France, Austria, Spain and Andorra to go into a 14-day quarantine.

Switzerland. Photo credit – PlanetSKI.

Here is the official advice from the Swiss authorities:

Upon arrival, go immediately to your home or to other suitable accommodation (e.g. a hotel or holiday apartment).

On the way there, keep a minimum distance of 1.5 metres from other people.

If you are unable to maintain this distance, we recommend that you wear a mask.

Avoid public transport if possible.

Report your arrival  to the cantonal authority responsible within two days.

Follow the instructions of the cantonal authority.

For 10 days after your arrival in Switzerland you must stay in your home or other suitable accommodation without going out.

Avoid contact with other people and follow the instructions on quarantine.

Anyone who fails to comply with the quarantine requirement or the duty to report to the authorities is committing an offence under the Epidemics Act which can be punished by a fine of up to CHF 10,000.

The mandatory quarantine requirement does not apply to transit passengers who have spent less than 24 hours in a country or area with an increased risk of infection.

Switzerland. Photo credit – PlanetSKI.

Switzerland itself is seeing 60 cases per 100,000 over a 2-week period.

It is better than its neighbour of France (231) and Austria (112).

But worse than other neighbouring countries – Italy (37.4) and Germany (30.9).

So, what is the situation for entering other alpine and ski countries across Europe, North America and beyond from the UK?

The worry for the winter is that as cases rise in the UK things may change.

This is the formal advice from the UK Foreign Office at time of writing on September 29th 2020:

France

• Arrivals by sea and air routes will need to complete a ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight.

Austria

• Entry to Austria from the UK without the need for a COVID-19 test or quarantine is now possible.

Italy

• Entry to Italy from the UK is permitted – you no longer have to justify your reason for travelling.

Switzerland

•  From 28 September, travellers who have visited the UK in the past 10 days will be required to quarantine for 10 days on entry to Switzerland.

Spain

• On arrival, travellers entering Spain from the UK will not be required to self-isolate. However, you will be subject to the following three requirements:

·       Provide the Spanish Ministry of Health with mandatory contact information and any history of exposure to COVID-19 48 hours prior to travel

·       Temperature check

·       Undergo a visual health assessment

Norway

• Entry to Norway depends on your country of residence. Travellers normally resident in the UK may enter Norway but from midnight on 21 August were required to self-quarantine for 10 days.

Sweden

• Like other EU countries, Sweden has banned entry to non-EU and non-EEA citizens arriving from outside of the EU until at least 31 October 2020. British nationals are not affected by this ban. There is no general quarantine obligation for travellers entering Sweden.

Finland

• Entry to Finland is prohibited for non-resident foreign nationals entering the country, with some exemptions. If you’re eligible to enter Finland from the UK, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival.

USA

•  British nationals cannot enter the USA if they have been in the UK, Ireland, Schengen zone, Iran, Brazil or China within the previous 14 days. If you are eligible to enter the USA you must be prepared to self-isolate for up to 14 days after arrival.

Canada

• Entry to Canada is limited, except for Canadian citizens and permanent residents or their immediate families (exceptions apply), temporary foreign workers, and some international students. If you’re eligible to enter Canada, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival.

Japan

• Short-term visitors who have been in the UK and other select countries in the last 14 days are currently unable to enter Japan, other than in exceptional circumstances.
• Japan has also suspended its visa waiver system for anyone travelling on a British passport. Single and multiple entry visas issued prior to 20 March also remain suspended.
• All passengers who arrive in Japan will be required to undergo a coronavirus screening test and are required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival at a designated location (such as a hotel or your own home) and avoid using public transport. You will also need to provide written evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result conducted within 72 hours of your flight departure time if arriving from the UK.

Outside of the ski countries Tunisia and Barbados now introduced new measure for people coming from the UK.

Tunisia will only allow Tunisian nationals or people who are permanent residents in the country.

British nationals that are not permanent residents in Tunisia will not be allowed in.

Barbados has said people from the UK will have to quarantine for up to seven days on arrival after the Caribbean island.

The new restrictions come into force from 1 October.