U.K. Reduces Self-Quarantine Period for Arriving Travelers

Terminal 2 arrivals area at London’s Heathrow Airport

Health officials in the United Kingdom announced that the period for which travelers arriving from overseas from a country not on the safe corridor list must self-quarantine will be reduced from 14 to ten days.

The news came in a joint statement from the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, who said that self-isolation period for someone who has come into contact with someone who has the coronavirus will be reduced in a similar fashion.

“Allowing somebody out of self-isolation a short time earlier than that is a reasonable balance between managing the risk to the public but allowing us not to intrude on their live,” said England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries.

The change has already taken effect in Wales and will go into effect elsewhere on Monday.

The group of chief medical officers also said that it is possible that the isolation period could be dispensed with entirely at some point next year.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)