Question reference: S5W-34576
- Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 14 January 2021
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Michael Matheson on 14 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any recent changes to the country exemptions list for International border health measures, and whether it plans to delay the implementation of pre-departure testing until next week.
Answer
Following identification of a new variant of coronavirus in Brazil, the Scottish Government as part of a four nations response has decided to impose additional restrictions on all arrivals from countries in South America – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. These measures will also apply to several countries and territories with strong travel links to South America; namely Portugal, including Azores and Madeira, Panama, Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) and the British Overseas Territory the Falkland Islands.
The Scottish Government also supports the UK Government’s intention to use reserved immigration powers to implement a travel ban for arrivals from these countries. With the exception of British and Irish nationals, visa holders and permanent residents all arrivals from the affected countries will therefore be denied entry to the UK from 0400 on Friday 15 January. British and Irish nationals, visa holders and permanent residents are still required to isolate with their households for 10 days, and will not be able to use exemptions from isolation.
We have also made the decision this week to remove Aruba;Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba; and Qatar from the country exemptions list due to concerning data on coronavirus in those countries. These changes will also come into force at 0400 on Friday 15 January
The Scottish Government intended to introduce pre departure testing on Friday 15 January. The UK Government has announced overnight that they would be delaying the implementation of pre-departure testing until Monday 18 January, to allow international arrivals and international passengers time to prepare. The Scottish Government is therefore also obliged to delay implementation to allow for coordination between the UK Government’s regulations and the relevant Scottish regulations. Pre departure testing will now come into force at 0400 on Monday 18 January.
Further information on these changes is available here; Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel and quarantine - gov.scot ( www.gov.scot )’