Airport testing could end 'quarantine roulette' for holidaymakers - but how would it work?
Heathrow Airport wants to test passengers arriving from certain countries for coronavirus when they enter the UK, potentially allowing them to spend less time in quarantine if they test negative. Airport bosses are calling on the government to approve the scheme, which would allow Britons returning to the UK from "at risk" countries to leave quarantine between five and eight days after they land - instead of the current 14.
Switzerland could become the next country to join the UK's quarantine list following a spike in coronavirus cases.
The country's health minister Alain Berset said "the situation is under control, but remains fragile" after more than 300 new cases were recently reported in a 24-hour period - the highest increase since mid-April.
Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago added to UK quarantine list
The additions to the UK quarantine list were announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the measures would come into effect from 4am on Saturday.
Video: Air bridges: Quarantine rules lifted for Britons travelling back from Portugal (Press Association)
Figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention of the latest seven-day infection rate in Switzerland show there are now 20.7 cases per 100,000 people.
This is above the UK government's quarantine threshold of 20 cases per 100,000 people in a week.
Timeline of countries added to and removed from 14-day quarantine list
Arrivals to the UK from Portugal will no longer have to self-isolate after it was added to the travel corridor list. Here are the key dates in the UK’s 14-day quarantine policy:– June 8Two-week quarantine rules for all UK arrivals come into force in efforts to guard against a second wave of coronavirus.All passengers – bar a handful of exemptions – are required to give contact details and the address where they will isolate.
Scotland has already taken Switzerland off its list of countries from which people do not need to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, and the rest of the UK could follow later this week.
The number of coronavirus cases recorded in Switzerland stands at 39,903 - of which more than 2,000 have been recorded in the past 10 days.
The rate of infections is also growing in the Czech Republic and Greece - it stands at 17.9 per 100,000 people in the Czech Republic, up from 15.6 a week ago, and in Greece the rate is 14.8, up from 13.5.
Neither country has breached the UK threshold, but are now likely to have their COVID-19 figures more closely scrutinised by the British government.
However, the weekly infections rate is not the only indicator the government is using to determine which countries are removed from the safe list.
Minister cannot give figures on quarantine fines as safe travel list changed
Travellers from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will have to self-isolate from Saturday.From 4am on Saturday, anyone returning from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Gallery: How countries are edging out of Covid-19 lockdown (Photo Services)
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Even as the world continues to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, several countries, where the daily growth of new infections has reduced, are beginning to take tentative steps to ease lockdown measures in order to allow citizens to move freely for the first time in weeks and to revive the economy. Click through to take a look at photos showing how countries are slowly and cautiously trying to return to normalcy.
(Pictured) Spectators maintain social distancing rules as they attend an opera at the Croatian National Theatre, which opened after two months, in Zagreb, Croatia, on May 26, 2020.
Note: Steps taken by countries to put the lockdown into reverse are subject to change/modifications. The slideshow is updated as of May 31.
The 79 countries hospitalised NHS Covid-19 patients travelled to
Some 800 patients who had been hospitalised between March and August said they had been abroad in the past two weeks. A quarter (200) had been to Spain.Data given to SAGE - Number 10's scientific advisory panel - revealed 800 patients who were hospitalised between March and August had travelled abroad in the past fortnight.
Musicians perform on a platform atop the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, one day ahead of its reopening after the lockdown, at the Prater amusement park, in Austria, on May 28.
A classical dancer wearing a face shield performs at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 28, as the government eased restrictions related to running businesses in the Thai capital.
Students attend a class after the reopening of schools, in San Sebastián, Spain, on May 28.
Michelle Keegan shows off stunning hair transformation as she emerges from Spanish holiday quarantine
Actress Michelle Keegan has emerged from her holiday quarantine with a beautiful new hair look in tow.The stunning 33 year old star has been on holiday in Spain, but was forced to quarantine upon her return to abide by government guidelines.
A man rides his bicycle past a cafe in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 27, as the government downgraded the country's state of emergency to a state of calamity, setting up new and more relaxed measures.
Women watch the movie "Dirty Dancing" from the back of their car at Mov'in Car Outdoor Car Cinema in Sydney, Australia, on May 28. Originally an outdoor cinema where patrons would watch the screen from beds, the cinema has been turned into a drive-in theatre due to the COVID-19 crisis.
People return to work after the four-day nationwide coronavirus restriction for the Eid al-Fitr holiday was lifted, in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 27.
MPs go back to work, as the prime minister urges the rest of the UK to do the same
Boris Johnson is facing one of the toughest tests of his premiership as he attempts to persuade parents to send children back to school and workers to return to their offices. On the day MPs return to the Commons after the summer recess, schools in England and Wales are re-opening, with the government desperately hoping for a mass return to classrooms.Ministers believe getting children back to school is vital to end the widespread working from home which has turned city centres into ghost towns and led to massive job losses on the high street.
An airport employee (C) checks the body temperature of a passenger at the Bagdogra Airport on the outskirts of Siliguri, India, on May 28, as domestic air travel resumed on May 25.
People work out behind social distancing boxes at a gym, which opened for the first time since closing on March 17, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on May 29.
A group of people exercise on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on May 1. The New South Wales government eased lockdown measures in response to a decline in coronavirus cases across the state from May 1.
A customer (R) talks to the owner of an independent book shop, after making a purchase in Pretoria, South Africa, on May 1 as the country began to gradually ease its strict COVID-19 lockdown measures allowing some industries to reopen.
Shoppers enter the Apumanque shopping center as it opened to the public for the first time in a month after a lockdown in Santiago, Chile, on April, 30.
Kaipara Flats School teacher prepares for the return of students in Auckland, New Zealand, on April 28, a day ahead of the schools' reopening for children up to 10 years under Level 3 restrictions.
A man in protective face mask is seen practicing his skating skills in front of Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, Poland, on April 28. The country reopened parks and forests from April 20.
A woman looks at shoes at a store in Zagreb, Croatia, on April 27. The country eased COVID-19 lockdown measures by resuming public transport and reopening shops.
A boy rides a bicycle in Seville, Spain, on April 26, after the country eased lockdown rules for children under the age of 14.
THIRTY wedding guests abandon British couple marrying in Prague today
Oliver (right) and his fiancée Andrea (left) have already cancelled their wedding twice due to pregnancy, having become engaged four years ago. Their third attempt at the ceremony was booked for August before lockdown, and the couple eventually confirmed to guests that it would go ahead after the Czech Republic was put on the UK Government's list of air bridge destinations in July. The UK Government put in place 'air bridges' in July which meant British tourists could travel to certain destinations without having to quarantine for 14 days when they returned.
A man sells coffee at a mobile stand in Aarhus, Denmark, on April 26 after the country relaxed restrictions imposed on small businesses as well as nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools.
A man waits as his wife gets a manicure at Three-13 Salon, Spa and Boutique, during the phased reopening of businesses and restaurants in Marietta, Georgia, U.S., on April 24.
Customers queue inside an IKEA shop in Rishon LeZion, Israel, on April 23, after the coronavirus lockdown was eased around the country and the company opened some of its stores.
A boutique shopkeeper puts a sign to keep a five-foot (1.5 meters) distance between customers before opening store for the first time since March, in Berlin on April 22 as small shops such as bookshops and cycling stores are allowed to reopen.
A tattoo artist works on a customer in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 22 after beauty salons, hairdressers and tattoo parlors resumed operations on April 20.
A woman rides a bicycle on the Vistula River boulevard in Kraków, Poland, on April 22 as the country eased its lockdown measures from April 20, reopening beaches, parks and forests to the public.
Members of the artistic group Cirk La Putyka perform to entertain residents during a partial lockdown in Prague, Czech Republic, on April 21. The government started easing the coronavirus restrictions from April 20.
A customer is seen selecting a book as bookstores reopen in Rome, Italy, on April 20. Two categories of shops - stationers and children's clothes - were given the green signal to begin functioning on April 14.
An employee cleans a ride on the playground of the Espira Grefsen Station Kindergarten in Oslo, Norway, on April 20 as the country started reopening preschools after a month-long closure.
People leave a home improvement store in Saalfelden, Austria, on April 14, following the reopening of smaller and non-essential shops with special measures.
44/44 SLIDES
Public Health England has told Sky News the risk assessment for each country is considered on an individual basis, and other factors including trends in incidence and deaths, prevalence, testing capacity and the positive test rate, as well as government actions and the quality of the data available, are considered.
Iceland is currently reporting the same seven-day rate as Greece (14.8) - but while in Greece there have been 1,589 new cases recorded in the past week, in Iceland there have been only 53.
Meanwhile in Ireland, the seven-day rate has risen from 11.4 to 14.9 - the highest since late May.
By contrast, the seven-day rate in the UK is currently 10.7.
Recent surges of coronavirus cases in countries such as Croatia and France saw ministers suddenly remove them from the UK's travel corridor list, sparking a mass exodus as tens of thousands of British tourists rushed back home to beat quarantine deadlines.
Stay alert to stop coronavirus spreading - here is the latest government guidance. If you think you have the virus, don't go to the GP or hospital, stay indoors and get advice online. Only call NHS 111 if you cannot cope with your symptoms at home; your condition gets worse; or your symptoms do not get better after seven days. In parts of Wales where 111 isn't available, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. In Scotland anyone with symptoms is advised to self-isolate for seven days. In Northern Ireland, call your GP.
THIRTY wedding guests abandon British couple marrying in Prague today .
Oliver (right) and his fiancée Andrea (left) have already cancelled their wedding twice due to pregnancy, having become engaged four years ago. Their third attempt at the ceremony was booked for August before lockdown, and the couple eventually confirmed to guests that it would go ahead after the Czech Republic was put on the UK Government's list of air bridge destinations in July. The UK Government put in place 'air bridges' in July which meant British tourists could travel to certain destinations without having to quarantine for 14 days when they returned.
Heathrow Airport wants to test passengers arriving from certain countries for coronavirus when they enter the UK, potentially allowing them to spend less time in quarantine if they test negative. Airport bosses are calling on the government to approve the scheme, which would allow Britons returning to the UK from "at risk" countries to leave quarantine between five and eight days after they land - instead of the current 14. 
The additions to the UK quarantine list were announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the measures would come into effect from 4am on Saturday. 
Arrivals to the UK from Portugal will no longer have to self-isolate after it was added to the travel corridor list. Here are the key dates in the UK’s 14-day quarantine policy:– June 8Two-week quarantine rules for all UK arrivals come into force in efforts to guard against a second wave of coronavirus.All passengers – bar a handful of exemptions – are required to give contact details and the address where they will isolate. 
Travellers from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will have to self-isolate from Saturday.From 4am on Saturday, anyone returning from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago will have to self-isolate for 14 days. 
Some 800 patients who had been hospitalised between March and August said they had been abroad in the past two weeks. A quarter (200) had been to Spain.Data given to SAGE - Number 10's scientific advisory panel - revealed 800 patients who were hospitalised between March and August had travelled abroad in the past fortnight.
Some 800 patients who had been hospitalised between March and August said they had been abroad in the past two weeks. A quarter (200) had been to Spain.Data given to SAGE - Number 10's scientific advisory panel - revealed 800 patients who were hospitalised between March and August had travelled abroad in the past fortnight. 
Actress Michelle Keegan has emerged from her holiday quarantine with a beautiful new hair look in tow.The stunning 33 year old star has been on holiday in Spain, but was forced to quarantine upon her return to abide by government guidelines. 
Boris Johnson is facing one of the toughest tests of his premiership as he attempts to persuade parents to send children back to school and workers to return to their offices. On the day MPs return to the Commons after the summer recess, schools in England and Wales are re-opening, with the government desperately hoping for a mass return to classrooms.Ministers believe getting children back to school is vital to end the widespread working from home which has turned city centres into ghost towns and led to massive job losses on the high street. 
Oliver (right) and his fiancée Andrea (left) have already cancelled their wedding twice due to pregnancy, having become engaged four years ago. Their third attempt at the ceremony was booked for August before lockdown, and the couple eventually confirmed to guests that it would go ahead after the Czech Republic was put on the UK Government's list of air bridge destinations in July. The UK Government put in place 'air bridges' in July which meant British tourists could travel to certain destinations without having to quarantine for 14 days when they returned. 
Airport testing could end 'quarantine roulette' for holidaymakers - but how... 
Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago added to UK quarantine list 
Timeline of countries added to and removed from 14-day quarantine list 
Minister cannot give figures on quarantine fines as safe travel list changed 
The 79 countries hospitalised NHS Covid-19 patients travelled to 
Michelle Keegan shows off stunning hair transformation as she emerges from... 
MPs go back to work, as the prime minister urges the rest of the UK to do the... 
THIRTY wedding guests abandon British couple marrying in Prague today 
