Italy Added to UK’s Quarantine List
15th October 2020
Last modified on May 14th, 2021
It is no great surprise as its case rate is now 64 per 100,000 over a 7-day period. It was the last major alpine ski nation that did not require self-isolation.
From 04.00 on Sunday 18th October people returning to the UK from Italy will have to self-isolate for two weeks.
Italy has seen a sharp rise in cases and has introduced new measures to try to tackle the increasing spread of the virus.
Italy has seen 8,804 new cases during the last 24 hours.
It tops the previous high of 7,332 set yesterday.
Italy’s health ministry also reported 83 deaths, up from 43 on Wednesday.
It is far less than the peak back in March and April when the death toll reached more than 900 per day.
Here at PlanetSKI we thought a quarantine requirement would come in last week when its rate was 25.6.
Will Italy and Sweden go on the quarantine list this week?
It has been normal that a country goes on the list once it goes over 20.
Changes to the quarantine list are usually announced every Thursday at 17:00 BST, and implemented the following Saturday at 04:00 BST.
Announcing the news on Twitter, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said the implementation date would be moved to 04:00 BST on Sunday 18 October.
No reason was given for the move to Sunday.
There has been mixed reaction with some criticising the move with half-term holidays around the corner and the disruption it will cause.
Others point out that cases are rising in Italy with the predicted numbers not looking good.
Some who criticised the quarantines from Spain and France back in the summer realise that perhaps it was the right decision given the current rapidly increases cases in each country.
Spain has 150 cases per 100,000 of population over a 7-day period and France has 181.
Italy already has its own restrictions on people arriving from the UK.
A negative Covid-19 test is now required on arrival in Italy from the UK.
Italian authorities said it has made the move following the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the UK.
People are asked to show a negative test administered in the 72-hours before travel.
“You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange a private test,” said the UK government.
Alternatively, people can get a free test on arrival at some airports, or at a testing facility in Italy shortly after they arrive.
Italy requires test for people coming from the UK
Here at PlanetSKI we remain surprised that no quarantine is needed from Sweden.
Its rate stands at 43.6 per 100,000 of population over a 7-day period.
Last week it was 31.7.
It compares poorly to its Scandinavian neighbours – Finland with 28.4 and Norway’s 19.8.
The UK government is considering changes to quarantine.
It has set up a review group, The Global Travel Taskforce, that will be reporting in November.
If current quarantine measures remain in place it will decimate the winter for many UK skiers and snowboarders.
The group is made up of government and health officials with no travel industry representation.
