Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Members will be aware that the Welsh Government made provision in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020 to ensure that travellers entering Wales from overseas countries and territories must isolate for 10 days and provide passenger information, to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. These restrictions came into force on 8 June 2020.
The International Travel Regulations are kept under review, and on 18 January the travel corridors were suspended. The current arrangements for travel within the Common Travel Area (CTA) (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) are unchanged so travel without isolation is still permitted.
The latest JBC risk assessment (19 April) for India shows that the risks have increased and that this should be added to the red list of countries. This would mean that direct flights would be banned and travellers would not be permitted entry to Wales, but instead would have to enter through a designated port in England or Scotland and remain in managed quarantine there for 10 days before travelling onto Wales.
Other amendments to be introduced to the International Travel Regulations are to;
- Allow couriers of human blood, tissues and organs who have been in a “red list” country to enter Wales and isolate, introduce a specific exception from isolation for work purposes and to exempt them from the post-arrival testing requirements.
- Allow health care professionals who have been in a “red list” country to enter Wales and isolate in Wales and to apply to them a requirement for workforce tests at days 2, 5 and 8 instead of the post-arrival testing requirements.
The regulations come into force from 04:00 hours Friday 23 April.