Travel restrictions and self-isolation (quarantine) rules have been implemented across the UK since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the public.

Since 15 February 2021, travellers arriving directly into Scotland from any country outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands) must quarantine for ten days and have a valid Managed Quarantine Facility booked prior to their departure, unless they have an exemption. More detailed information for travellers arriving in Scotland is available on the Scottish Government website.

The rules between each of the UK four nation countries vary, and travellers should follow the rules both for the UK nation they will be arriving into and their home nation. Further information for travellers arriving into England, Wales and Northern Ireland is available.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides guidance on travelling abroad, including the latest information on COVID-19 and other non-COVID-19 risks such as safety and security, entry requirements, and travel warnings. This guidance is being kept under constant review and may change at short notice.

Country specific COVID-19 risk

The fitfortravel (for the general public) and TRAVAX (for health professionals) country pages have been updated to include a COVID-19 country specific risk-rating, with every country being identified as high, moderate or low risk and each rating accompanied by appropriate travel advice. This information will be listed in the ‘Alerts’ section on each country page of fitfortravel and the 'Emerging Health Risks' section of every TRAVAX country page. This risk-rating is based on a robust public health assessment of the COVID-19 risks for travellers to each country and is regularly reviewed.

Advice for travellers

Before planning or booking international travel, travellers should consider if their journey is essential and legally permitted.  The following sources should be consulted both prior to travel and during the trip, as guidance may change at short notice:

• the FCDO website, for country specific Travel Advisory Notices regarding travel and entry restrictions, and review the local medical care available at your destination 
• the COVID-19 risk-rating at your destination, which will be listed in the ‘Alerts’ section of all fitfortravel country pages and the ‘Emerging Health Risks’ section of all TRAVAX country pages 
• the TRAVAX travel insurance page, as such insurance should be considered essential 
• the fitfortravel COVID-19 health considerations for travel page 
• the UK Border Control website, in order to check current rules regarding self-isolation (quarantine) before your planned return to the UK 
• requirements for COVID-19 testing at their destination prior to return to the UK

Information relating to travel and COVID-19 is available on the TRAVAX (for healthcare practitioners) and fitfortravel (for the public) websites.

Information on COVID-19 for the general public is available on the NHS Inform (Scotland) and the NHS.UK (rest of the UK) websites.

Information and resources on COVID-19 for health professionals is available on the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) (Scotland) and Public Health England (PHE) (rest of the UK) websites.

Source: TRAVAX, 4 March 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published updated guidance on providing care for people with lymphoedema and other consequences of lymphatic filariasis (LF), a debilitating neglected tropical disease that is endemic in 72 countries globally.  LF infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes, is usually acquired in childhood and can cause hidden damage to the lymphatic system.

The updated WHO guidance addresses: 

• how to collect information on the numbers of people with lymphoedema and hydrocele 
• the policies needed to successfully provide sustainable services for these patients 
• how to build capacity for health system staff in providing high-quality care 
• how to monitor care provided 
• how to evaluate the quality of care provided

Further information and advice on LF is available for health professionals on the TRAVAX website.

Source: ECDC, 5 March 2021

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) periodically publishes influenza characterisation reports, giving an overview of circulating influenza viruses. These reports provide details on current vaccine strains, summarise the development of viruses since the last report and closely follow the main developments for the ongoing influenza season.

On 11 March 2021, the ECDC published the fourth virus characterisation period report for the 2020 to 2021 influenza season. As of week eight of 2021, 712 influenza detections across the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region had been reported, of which 51% were type A viruses, with A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 being equally represented, and 49% were type B viruses, with ten having been ascribed to a lineage, eight being B/Victoria and two B/Yamagata. These figures represent a 99.5% drop in detections compared with the same period in 2020.

Source: ECDC, 11 March 2021

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published operational guidance containing practical recommendations and key considerations to inform the development and implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programmes throughout the EU/EEA and the UK.

The guidance outlines key considerations for PrEP implementation, and provides an overview of key markers of readiness to deliver larger-scale programmes. It also provides guidance on how to establish support from senior and community stakeholders and prioritise PrEP within national health agendas.

Source: ECDC, 5 March 2021

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published a report on the results of a systematic literature review investigating the impact of novel strategies and approaches on access to testing, testing coverage, and linkage to care of key populations at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The report also presents information on the testing technologies used for the identified novel strategies and approaches, reported quality assurance needs and risks, reported feasibility and acceptability, and identifies gaps in knowledge and research priorities.

Source: ECDC, 10 March 2021

World Water Day, held annually on 22 March, focuses on the importance of freshwater and raises awareness of the estimated 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. Under the theme of valuing water, the 2021 campaign aims to generate a global, public conversation over social media looking at how people value water in all the ways it is used.

More information and resources are available on the World Water Day website.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published a briefing highlighting the key health impacts resulting from climate change in Europe. The report also examines the opportunities to reduce climate-related health risks through adaptation policies aligned with mitigation actions.

European countries are facing increasing threats from climate change, including extreme weather events and infectious diseases. The briefing notes that, while all EU member states have strategies or plans for adaptation, actions addressing the climate threats to health could be better supported by further knowledge on effective solutions.

Source: EEA, 4 March 2021