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Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

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zero

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Because they are in Schengen.

The Netherlands and Czechia are now on the list

In which case enforcement will be tricky. You could enter overland from another schengen country and no one would know you were there.

As Switzerland is not in the EU, there are customs posts at many overland borders, some of which (on major roads) are occasionally staffed; but you are correct that people who really want to circumvent any checks could enter via minor roads or even footpaths. I believe that in early 2020 physical barriers were placed over many of the tiny paths crossing the borders, but they probably were easily defeated if one was truly determined.
 
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nw1

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Because they are in Schengen.

Which is completely irrational. If they are worried about the mutation, they should treat all countries the same.

Don't get me wrong, 'Boris' and the hard Brexiters are to blame for this (though I do realise Switzerland is not an EU country) - but treating the UK less favourably than Schengen countries for this reason is irrational nonsense and a little xenophobic.
 

Peterthegreat

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Which is completely irrational. If they are worried about the mutation, they should treat all countries the same.

Don't get me wrong, 'Boris' and the hard Brexiters are to blame for this (though I do realise Switzerland is not an EU country) - but treating the UK less favourably than Schengen countries for this reason is irrational nonsense and a little xenophobic.
I agree.
 

nw1

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The Netherlands and Czechia are now on the list



As Switzerland is not in the EU, there are customs posts at many overland borders, some of which (on major roads) are occasionally staffed; but you are correct that people who really want to circumvent any checks could enter via minor roads or even footpaths. I believe that in early 2020 physical barriers were placed over many of the tiny paths crossing the borders, but they probably were easily defeated if one was truly determined.

And such barriers would do little but annoy those who want to go for a mountain hike in the Alps which just happens to cross borders.
 

nw1

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Belgium also on the list.......
OK so I take back my comment about Schengen countries getting more favourable treatment.

Even so, it seems a little premature at this time, given how little of it there is in any European country and I'm sure it will get to Switzerland of its own accord very very soon, restrictions or no restrictions.
 

Peterthegreat

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OK so I take back my comment about Schengen countries getting more favourable treatment.

Even so, it seems a little premature at this time, given how little of it there is in any European country and I'm sure it will get to Switzerland of its own accord very very soon, restrictions or no restrictions.
Agree totally. Unfortunately if the UK (and others) impose restrictions on some countries then they have little to complain about if others do it to the UK.
 

Ediswan

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And such barriers would do little but annoy those who want to go for a mountain hike in the Alps which just happens to cross borders.
If stereotypes apply, the Swiss would comply, those from the neighbouring country would walk past.
 

yorkie

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Well at that rate everywhere will soon be on the list.
If Omicron is a less fit variant than Delta, this will all blow over soon.

On the other hand if Omicron is a more fit variant than Delta, it will take over everywhere and the sooner it does that, the better, as it will stop this nonsense.

Either way, I am not planning any more trips abroad until mid February, by which time I am confident either of the above scenarios will have occurred and things will be back to normal.
 

Peter Mugridge

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If Omicron is a less fit variant than Delta, this will all blow over soon.

On the other hand if Omicron is a more fit variant than Delta, it will take over everywhere and the sooner it does that, the better, as it will stop this nonsense.

Either way, I am not planning any more trips abroad until mid February, by which time I am confident either of the above scenarios will have occurred and things will be back to normal.
The doctor who discovered the South African Omicron thingy was on the BBC this morning saying that all the patients so far with it have only had extremely mild symptoms.

This fits in with the normal development pattern of any virus in that it evolves into more contagious but less virulent versions.

Looking at our own UK figures, currently the number of detected new infections is upwards but the number of hospitalisations and deaths is sharply downwards - this possibly suggests the new variant has already spread widely and is indeed producing a much milder infection?
 

yorkie

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The doctor who discovered the South African Omicron thingy was on the BBC this morning saying that all the patients so far with it have only had extremely mild symptoms.

This fits in with the normal development pattern of any virus in that it evolves into more contagious but less virulent versions.

Looking at our own UK figures, currently the number of detected new infections is upwards but the number of hospitalisations and deaths is sharply downwards - this possibly suggests the new variant has already spread widely and is indeed producing a much milder infection?
See my posts in the dedicated thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/omicron-the-latest-variant-of-concern.225357/post-5421383
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/omicron-the-latest-variant-of-concern.225357/post-5422315
 

221129

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Unless I've missed it, no one seems to have mentioned that we are going back to compulsory PCR testing for EVERY international arrival into the UK. Vaccinated or not. LFTs no longer accepted from 0400 tomorrow. You must also self isolate until you report a negative result.
 

adc82140

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Unless I've missed it, no one seems to have mentioned that we are going back to compulsory PCR testing for EVERY international arrival into the UK. Vaccinated or not. LFTs no longer accepted from 0400 tomorrow. You must also self isolate until you report a negative result.
It was discussed quite a lot a few pages back, but I'll concede things can get lost in this fast moving thread.
 

yorkie

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Unless I've missed it, no one seems to have mentioned that we are going back to compulsory PCR testing for EVERY international arrival into the UK. Vaccinated or not. LFTs no longer accepted from 0400 tomorrow. You must also self isolate until you report a negative result.
It's absolutely appalling. There is no medical, logical or scientific basis for this.

Fortunately I've not booked any further
trips abroad until late February and I plan not to go abroad until the rules are relaxed.
 

Yew

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The doctor who discovered the South African Omicron thingy was on the BBC this morning saying that all the patients so far with it have only had extremely mild symptoms.

This fits in with the normal development pattern of any virus in that it evolves into more contagious but less virulent versions.

Looking at our own UK figures, currently the number of detected new infections is upwards but the number of hospitalisations and deaths is sharply downwards - this possibly suggests the new variant has already spread widely and is indeed producing a much milder infection?
It could possibly be, I wasn't sure if it was the effect of the booster programme coming into full force tough. Whilst T-cell immunity is great for most of us, it is a little slower to react (hence symptomatic infections), and so the boosters can help make up the difference; especially for those who are in vulnerable groups.
 

Butts

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It's absolutely appalling. There is no medical, logical or scientific basis for this.

Fortunately I've not booked any further
trips abroad until late February and I plan not to go abroad until the rules are relaxed.

Tell me about it !!!

Potentially expensive as well in terms of testing and possible lost work days.

Albania and Turkey for me over the next couple of weeks.

Won't stop me going though :E
 

LAX54

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So this was 'discovered' a week or so ago, but surely it would have been about for weeks, maybe months before that, and as such is probably in every country already, and as its mild (so they say) many will just pass it off as a bout of flu !
 

LNW-GW Joint

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There's an incident unfolding regarding rugby teams (2 Welsh and 1 Irish), returning from Cape Town.
The competition was abandoned and the teams tried to return before the new restrictions kicked in, but failed.
Scarlets (Llanelli) tested OK and are in-flight returning to Dublin, but Cardiff and Munster have failed Covid tests and were not allowed to leave.
They were all due to travel on the same charter flight, returning to Cardiff via Dublin.
But Scarlets face hotel quarantine when they disembark in Dublin, on Red List rules.
Cardiff and Munster face quarantine in South Africa, and then quarantine in the UK/Ireland on return.
Scarlets are on a chartered Hi-Fly A340 (9H-SOL), the same plane which did two trips from Cape Town to Antarctica last week, landing on an ice runway.

Switzerland and Spain are also tightening their rules for incoming passengers.
 

danm14

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But Scarlets face hotel quarantine when they disembark in Dublin, on Red List rules.
Ireland has not yet reintroduced hotel quarantine, and their interim measure of home quarantine is - as far as I am aware - not legally binding, rather just guidance that is being officially misrepresented as law.

Ireland revoked (or possibly let lapse) their quarantine laws, whereas the UK kept them but removed all countries from the list of countries subject to it - hence the UK could reintroduce it overnight, but Ireland cannot without passing new legislation.
 

brad465

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The doctor who discovered the South African Omicron thingy was on the BBC this morning saying that all the patients so far with it have only had extremely mild symptoms.

This fits in with the normal development pattern of any virus in that it evolves into more contagious but less virulent versions.

Looking at our own UK figures, currently the number of detected new infections is upwards but the number of hospitalisations and deaths is sharply downwards - this possibly suggests the new variant has already spread widely and is indeed producing a much milder infection?
I was thinking it might be more to do with the booster rollout (now at 30% of over 12s, with a heavy focus on over 50s), than on a milder illness, although in future yes I think that will be more of a factor.

I think the best argument to try and make to others who criticise the travel industry and say things like they care more about their income than lives is this: the income they make, and the income of their employees, should be being taxed, where that tax revenue should be going to pay for, among other things, running the NHS, which allows it save lives from covid and all other ailments. It's easy to say we must put lives before the economy, but eventually they have a negative impact on each other. Now if all the action around covid was only for 3 months (as it was sold last year), then yes I can see the merits in putting lives first. But what may have been acceptable for 3 months is not sustainable for what is now approaching 2 years.
 

Jonny

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Meanwhile, the EU is proposing a time limit on
(see https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...th-limit-on-covid-vaccine-validity-for-travel for one report)
EU Proposes 9-Month Limit on Covid Vaccine Validity for Travel
Bloc’s move likely to strengthen case for booster shots
Proposals cover travel from inside and outside European Union

The European Union is recommending a 9-month time limit for the validity of Covid-19 vaccinations for travel into and within the bloc and also is proposing to prioritize vaccinated travelers.

The European Commission is proposing that member states should continue welcoming all travelers inoculated with shots approved by the bloc, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. It also called for countries to reopen as of Jan. 10 to all those who have used vaccines approved by the World Health Organization.

EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders announced on Thursday a new internal EU travel framework based more on individuals’ vaccination or recovery status than on caseloads in the countries they’re coming from. A separate announcement on the external travel rules is scheduled for later Thursday.

The proposed updates introduce the new time limit for the validity of Covid inoculations, making clear that boosters will be needed beyond the 9-month period. But the EU said it wasn’t ready to propose a validity period for certificates issued based on booster shots.

The commission is also proposing to extend its rules on the EU digital certificate beyond next summer, Reynders said.

EU governments are pushing for the bloc to smooth out differences in rules to help safeguard the ability to travel after governments have employed contrasting approaches to how long vaccinations should last and how to manage booster shots. The commission offers recommendations that could be implemented by member nations.
(article continues)

Backup link: https://archive.ph/wYlqN

It will be interesting, to say the least, to see the reaction on people's faces.

My comment on the whole concept is, that if it is so important, it should be that antibodies show up or the vaccine is deemed not to have happened. I have heard of that being done for healthcare staff in other areas. It is hard not to think that someone is trying to capitalise on the affair.
 

yorkie

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So this was 'discovered' a week or so ago, but surely it would have been about for weeks, maybe months before that, and as such is probably in every country already, and as its mild (so they say) many will just pass it off as a bout of flu !
That's correct, yes (or just a cold).

Travel restrictions won't change whether or not this variant takes over from Delta (see this post)
Meanwhile, the EU is proposing a time limit on
(see https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...th-limit-on-covid-vaccine-validity-for-travel for one report)


It will be interesting, to say the least, to see the reaction on people's faces.

My comment on the whole concept is, that if it is so important, it should be that antibodies show up or the vaccine is deemed not to have happened. I have heard of that being done for healthcare staff in other areas. It is hard not to think that someone is trying to capitalise on the affair.
The focus is all on antibodies, despite T-cells being key here. But it's not so easy to measure T cells. Measuring antibody levels is a fallacy because you can't really measure what the immune response would be.

I would advise against anyone booking any trip abroad for December or January; after that I would hope that common sense will prevail.
 

scarby

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Meanwhile, the EU is proposing a time limit on
(see https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...th-limit-on-covid-vaccine-validity-for-travel for one report)


It will be interesting, to say the least, to see the reaction on people's faces.
How is that going to work, for, say, travel to France, where they have now said that from January 15 the vaccination certificate, without a booster, older than 7 months will be automatically invalidated to use as the health pass to access restaurants, events and many other public spaces? The vaccine certificate would be okay to get into France but useless once in the country unless one had had a booster shot at least two weeks before entering.
 

adc82140

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Sturgeon and Drakeford are pushing for 8 day isolations on return. But they won't be the ones stumping up the cash to bail out the travel industry.
 

robbob700

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A lot of countries now seem to be effectively banning UK children between 12 and 15 from entering, as they insist on 2 doses of the vaccine (Spain being the latest from 1st December).
 

Jonny

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How is that going to work, for, say, travel to France, where they have now said that from January 15 the vaccination certificate, without a booster, older than 7 months will be automatically invalidated to use as the health pass to access restaurants, events and many other public spaces? The vaccine certificate would be okay to get into France but useless once in the country unless one had had a booster shot at least two weeks before entering.

That's government for you; it will end up fixed after a large payment to an IT contractor.
 
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