Travel restrictions and self-isolation (quarantine) rules continue to be enforced in order to help reduce the global spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the UK public. Within the UK, coronavirus restrictions are gradually being lifted, with timetables having been published for their easing in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A cautious approach to resuming international travel is underway for people living in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A traffic light system which categorises countries on to a red, amber or green list, based on their COVID-19 risk, is in place for travellers arriving into the UK.

Currently, anyone entering Scotland from countries on the international travel green list will not be required to quarantine on arrival, but will have to take a PCR test for COVID-19. The green list is currently the same as that in place for England, but will be subject to review based on Scotland’s specific needs. It should be noted that this system does not indicate which countries are currently allowing UK travellers to enter their country.

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.

During May 2021, the COVID-19 risk to UK travellers was decreased in the following countries: 

• Canary Islands (Spain) 
• China 
• Faroe Islands 
• Gibraltar  
• Hong Kong 
• Macao

On 4 June 2021, the COVID-19 risk to UK travellers was increased in Singapore.

Advice for travellers

Prior to booking any international travel, travellers must first check if the country they are travelling to is currently accepting UK travellers. 

• Each country or territory on the FCDO foreign travel advice page provides up-to-date information on their entry rules, in response to coronavirus (COVID-19), under the ‘Entry Requirements’ section. 
• Travellers should be aware that some countries or territories may require proof of COVID-19 vaccination status for entry. For those living in Scotland, England and Wales, guidance for demonstrating COVID-19 vaccination status is available. Information on demonstrating COVID-19 vaccination status has yet to be announced for Northern Ireland.

It is advised that travellers are aware of all travel restrictions, self-isolation rules and precautions they should take, in order to reduce their risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) before, during and after travel, as detailed on the fitfortravel website.

On return to the UK, travellers should be aware that quarantine rules differ for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Prior to their journey, travellers must ensure they are able to comply with the rules appropriate to the UK nation they will be arriving in and reside in, if different.

Source: TRAVAX, 31 May 2021

The UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament, which was postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, will now take place between 11 June and 11 July 2021, and will be held across eleven host cities, in the UK, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Russia and Spain.

UEFA have produced an official spectator event guide, which contains detailed information about the event, travel information, and COVID-19 mitigation health and safety measures for each host city and stadium. Ticket holders must agree to comply with the UEFA Euro 2020 code of conduct for spectators, which requires compliance with all applicable laws and government guidance for COVID-19.

Those planning on travelling to the event should be aware of any border entry restrictions and enforced requirements at the time of travel, which may include the obligation to quarantine and provide a negative COVID-19 test result. In some cases, entry to a host country from abroad may not be permitted at all, with no exemptions being made for Euro 2020 ticket holders.

Source: TRAVAX, 1 June 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published annual updates detailing the countries and areas that have a risk of yellow fever transmission, and where there are International Certificate of Vaccine or Prophylaxis (ICVP) requirements for international travellers.

The country pages of the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites have been updated to reflect any changes.

Key updates include: 

• the addition or removal of ICVP requirements when transiting through countries with risk, these being Antigua and Barbuda, Chad, Nigeria and Sudan 
• changes to age requirement for ICVP in Gabon, Mozambique and Trinidad and Tobago 
• a change to requirement for all travellers or those arriving from countries with risk, these being Nigeria and Sudan 
• Guyana has removed previous ICVP exemption for travellers arriving from Argentina, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago 
• new requirement for ICVP from Uruguay 
• Malta no longer states that infants under nine months of age are subject to isolation or surveillance if arriving from an area with risk of yellow fever transmission 
• removal of requirement for ICVP from Libya and the Philippines

Source: TRAVAX, 4 June 2021

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has joined the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in England and Wales in advising consumers not to eat specific melons, due to the risk of contamination with Salmonella.

This advice follows some recent Salmonella cases of illness in the UK, where the possible source is thought to be whole honeydew, cantaloupe and galia melons originating from Costa Rica, Honduras or Brazil, bought on or before 28 May 2021. Only those types of melons listed are affected, and consumers may be able to identify the country of origin from a sticker on the fruit. If consumers are not sure about the country of origin, they are advised to dispose of the fruit as a precaution.

Both agencies are aware that a large number of UK retailers may have stocked the affected melons, which have now been removed from sale. FSS advise that anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out-of-hours service in the first instance. FSS and the FSA are working with Public Health England, Public Health Scotland and other UK health protection and food safety colleagues to continue investigations.

Source: FSS, 31 May 2021

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published an overview of avian influenza for the period February to May 2021. Between 24 February and 14 May 2021, 1,672 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus detections were reported in 24 EU and EEA countries, and the UK, including 580 cases in poultry, 1,051 in wild birds and 41 in captive birds.

In major findings from the overview: 

• Poland reported the greatest number of detections in poultry, with 297 outbreaks occurring in a densely populated poultry area over a short time period. They also reported 56 detections in wild birds.  
• Germany reported 168 outbreaks in poultry and 603 detections in wild birds. 
• Denmark reported 167 detections in wild birds. 
• A second peak of HPAI-associated wild bird mortality was observed from February to April 2021 in north-west Europe.

Since the last overview report, two human infections due to A(H5N6) HPAI were reported from China and Laos, and ten human cases due to A(H9N2) low pathogenic avian influenza virus were identified in China and Cambodia. The ECDC assess that the risk to the general population is very low, and the risk for occupationally exposed people is low.

Source: ECDC, 31 May 2021

Ahead of the new season, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revealed that 94% of Scotland’s designated bathing waters met strict environmental standards for water quality.

The report highlighted: 

• 34% of bathing waters in Scotland were rated ‘excellent’ 
• half as many bathing waters were rated ‘poor’ when compared to 2019 
• partnership projects are currently underway to maintain progress and further improve bathing waters, including the five rated ‘poor’

The SEPA report coincides with the publication of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) annual bathing water report.

Sources: SEPA, 1 June 2021 and EEA, 2 June 2021

Ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow later this year, the Scottish Government has announced a television, radio and digital campaign to encourage people across Scotland to come together to help tackle the climate emergency. The Let’s Do Net Zero campaign highlights the benefits a net zero society would bring to the economy, health and environment. The campaign also aims to raise greater awareness of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and the transformation required across all corners of the economy and society, in order to reduce Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

The domestic campaign will provide information and resources to help support the choices and decisions people can take to help reduce emissions, whilst improving health and wellbeing, while highlighting the achievements of communities, businesses and organisations who have already taken action to reduce emissions and introduce more environmentally sustainable practices. The international campaign will demonstrate the action that Scotland is taking to protect the planet, inviting global collaboration ahead of COP26.

Source: Scottish Government, 2 June 2021

On 8 June 2021, the second virtual celebration of United Nations (UN) World Oceans Day will take place, highlighting the theme ‘The ocean: life and livelihoods’, which aims to shed light on the role of the ocean as a life source, as well as informing the public of the impact of human actions on oceans.

A declaration of intentions will also be published on World Oceans Day 2021, detailing the challenges that need to be met in order to achieve the UN sustainable development goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources by 2030.

Source: UN World Oceans Day, June 2021

The European Environment Agency (EEA) reports that official data, submitted on behalf of the EU to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), shows that EU member states managed to collectively reduce their emissions by 3.8% from 2018 to 2019. This decrease brought EU emissions to 24% below 1990 levels, not accounting for carbon dioxide (CO2) removals from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities. When these removals are included, the overall reduction from 1990 to 2019 amounts to 25.9%.

Almost 80% of the net reduction in emissions achieved in 2019 took place in the heat and power sector, which is covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Increasing carbon prices and gas becoming relatively cheaper, in comparison to coal, led to a significant reduction in coal use, in favour of gas and renewable energy sources. Emissions also decreased in other industrial sectors and residential buildings, the latter due to a warmer winter and lower demand for heating. However, CO2 emissions from the transport sector continued their increasing trend in 2019. For road transport, the increase was mostly due to higher gasoline consumption in passenger cars.

The EEA report that during the past three decades, several factors have contributed to the EU’s emission reductions, including an increase in the use of renewable energy, a switch from coal to gas in electricity and heat production, improvements in energy efficiency and structural changes in European economies. The decarbonisation of the EU’s power sector has been the largest contributor to emission reductions since 1990.

Source: EEA, 31 May 2021