Vaughan Gething MS, 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 14 days and provide passenger information, to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. These restrictions came into force on 8 June 2020.
On 10 July, the Welsh Government amended these Regulations to introduce exemptions from the isolation requirement for a list of countries and territories, and a limited range of people in specialised sectors or employment who may be exempted from the isolation requirement or excepted from certain provisions of the passenger information requirements.
Since then these Regulations have been kept under review and a number of changes to the list of exempt countries and territories have been made.
Today I reviewed the latest JBC assessments and I have decided that Estonia and Latvia will be removed from the list of exempt countries and territories. Travellers from these countries will be required to isolate on arrival in Wales. I have also decided that Aruba, Bhutan, Mongolia, Timor-Leste and the Pacific islands of Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, Tonga, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands will be added to the list of exempt countries and territories. Travellers from these countries and territories will therefore not be required to isolate on arrival in Wales.
The specific restrictions currently imposed on travellers from Denmark and members of their household will be lifted. The prohibition on the arrival of aircraft and vessels travelling directly from Denmark will also be lifted. Denmark will not, however, be included in the list of exempt countries and territories. Therefore, travellers from Denmark will continue to be required to isolate on arrival in Wales.
Additional events will also be added to the list of sporting events in Schedule 4 for which those involved are excepted from the isolation requirements for limited purposes connected with their participation.
Tomorrow I will lay the necessary regulations which will come into force at 04:00 on Saturday 28 November.