England adds Thailand and Montenegro to travel red list

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: A worker sanitises a barrier at the International arrivals area of Terminal 5 in London's Heathrow Airport, Britain, August 2, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - England will add Thailand and Montenegro to its "red list" of destinations that require travellers to quarantine in a hotel on their return, the government said.

 

Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Azores would be added to England's "green list" of places that are safe to visit without requiring quarantine on return.

 

All changes to the lists will come into effect at 0400 (0300 GMT) on Monday 30 Aug., the government said.

 

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Alex Richardson and David Gregorio)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-27

 

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[ourmanflint]

Fairs fair. What's good enough for Thailand...

[condobrit001]

As expected, Thailand now on the UK red list, making it VERY expensive for brits to get back home, even those who took up the Phuket sandbox scam who will be stranded unless they pay the 2,200 GBP per person plus testing fees to get home. The UK decision reflects their distrust of Thailands reporting of daily infection figures and their general dislike of the military junta here.

[henry213]

Lol dirty Thailand Love it.......

[condobrit001]

Great job British Embassy in Thailand!

[Clarkey611]

14 minutes ago, condobrit001 said:

Great job British Embassy in Thailand!

Is there an Embassy in Thailand?

[Andycoops]

No intention of ever going back so I don't give a toss, pity for those that do/have to though.

[Thailand]

25 minutes ago, condobrit001 said:

Great job British Embassy in Thailand!

What is it to do with them?

[ukrules]

The red list is all about new variants - they want to keep them out, hence the hotel quarantine.

 

If you have normal COVID (regular Delta) it doesn't matter as it's common over there.

[Petey11]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

The red list is all about new variants - they want to keep them out, hence the hotel quarantine.

 

If you have normal COVID (regular Delta) it doesn't matter as it's common over there.

Don't think it's just variants, although that is a major factor, it's also infection rates and vaccination numbers that go into the decision making as well AFAIK.

[DonniePeverley]

If EU member countries start adding Thailand to a block list it's going to get very difficult to get home.

 

 

[cyril sneer]

Not good

 

They should lower the 2 grand quarantine cost 

[ukrules]

Just now, cyril sneer said:

Not good

 

They should lower the 2 grand quarantine cost 

Lol, they just increased it by a lot. I think this is to discourage people from going to 'red list' countries.

[cyril sneer]

Just now, ukrules said:

Lol, they just increased it by a lot. I think this is to discourage people from going to 'red list' countries.

They should consider people who’ve been waiting to go back 

 

No option to stay at cheaper hotels, so looks like nothing more than a money-maker 

 

Wonder if the Taliban will have to pay when they come…

[Somtamnication]

A disaster for me personally. This is not good. Thanks Anutin.

[Taco]

TAT should be blaming this on the Burmese shortly. 

[Karma80]

I'm not sure it will significantly effect real UK arrival numbers anyway. How many people from the UK were seriously dumb enough to book a two week long haul holiday, rainy season, in a pandemic, to mostly closed island, when international travel rules can shift at a moments notice.

 

The sandbox will still remain the quarantine of choice for anyone coming to Thailand long term who doesn't want to be locked in a room for 15 days in Bangkok.

 

I feel for expats who need to return to the UK for some reason though. That's a blow.

[mrfill]

Note to headline writers

This applies not only to England but to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

[boogiewoogie]

So what did u mates jab this whole time?

Isnt there like 50mil plus vaccinated on an Island? Shouldnt u be protected already?

[Bkk Brian]

Only a matter of time before that happened, its unfortunate and a blow for the sandbox as that had a good percentage of UK nationals arriving although the numbers arriving in sandbox from all nationalities has been declining rapidly lately anyway.

 

Lets hope Thailand gets its act together.

[Iforbach]

Anyone think it's just thailand ..moaners need look at it globally..

[John435]

54 minutes ago, Karma80 said:

How many people from the UK were seriously dumb enough to book a two week long haul holiday, rainy season, in a pandemic, to mostly closed island, when international travel rules can shift at a moments notice.

People desperate to see their families and loved ones?

[DoctorB]

Yet only last month they put India on the 'no quarantine if vaxed' amber list. The mentality is baffling. It really does seem that it's just a game of travel roulette.

[HAPPYNUFF]

Shlitt, there goes  the sandbox..  Pack up the toys, close the shop, no Poms coming now.

[Scrotobike]

It had to come -3 words

 

litterboxes 

nails

coffin

[Whale]

I must admit that surprised me. Guess I can stop looking for a cheap flight/route back now. I was looking forward to going to the pub again.

 

 

Obviously means Thailand does not have anything under control as UK official daily covid figures are quite higher than Thailands.

UPDATED TO ANSWER MY OWN OPINION:

from UK gov website

 

"Thailand and Montenegro will be added to the red list from 4am on Monday 30 August 2021, reflecting the increased case rates in these countries and the higher risk that travel from these countries poses to UK public health. The high rates combined with lower levels of published genomic surveillance in Thailand and Montenegro than other countries mean that an outbreak of a new variant or existing variants of concern (VOC) or variants under investigation (VUI) cannot be easily identified before it is imported and seeded across the UK."

 

[ThailandRyan]

Kaboom, and unless there is now a need and specific reason to get to Thailand it appears the UK folks will not be heading here to Vacation.  Today will also see the CCSA reduce restrictions in preparations for opening the country in the near future.  Unfortunately, for tourism issues it will only be domestic tourism for now, but hey I hope to be able to visit Phuket again as well as a few other locales instead of being just stuck in BKK.  As always traveling safely by my own vehicle and ensuring my family is safe as well.  Maybe by mid 2022 or for 2022's high season the country will still be around and not destroyed by this government.  On another note, the shopping markets have been obviously depleted of the imported foods as many shelves in Villa, Gourmet foods, and Tops have many empty shelves and freezer sections.

[clivebaxter]

Exceptions should be made for those already on holiday, if not back by Wed it's forced detention in expensive prison.

[peleid]

2 hours ago, Andycoops said:

No intention of ever going back so I don't give a toss, pity for those that do/have to though.

I always said that as long as the positives out weigh the negatives regarding going back, I would continue to live in Thailand, speaking personally what has/is happening in Thailand over the last 18 months that is getting closer by the week

[Chongalulu]

8 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

Exceptions should be made for those already on holiday, if not back by Wed it's forced detention in expensive prison.

No,this is exactly the same conditions as UK applied to other countries shifting status. If you went on holiday this was always a clear and known risk you took at own expense.