Further countries added to the self-isolation list for travellers
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A significant rise in the number of cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Austria, Croatia, Switzerland and Trinidad and Tobago means travellers from these countries will have to self-isolate at home or another specified address for 14 days on arrival in Scotland from 4am this Saturday.
At the same time Portugal will be added to the list of destinations where travellers will be exempt from the requirement to quarantine.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We cannot emphasise enough that if people choose to travel abroad, they must be aware that quarantine requirements may change while they are away.
"The same can be said for the rules within the country or territory people are travelling to.
"If people do travel from any country that is not exempt from the requirements, they will be required to quarantine for 14 days on return.
“Indeed, wherever people have travelled from – an exempt country or not – they must complete a Passenger Locator Form and provide it to Border Force officials.
"Failure to do so can also result in a fine since this, along with any failure to self-isolate where required, poses a significant risk to wider public health across Scotland.”
“As I have said previously, we do not make these decisions lightly, but suppressing the virus and protecting public health is vital.”
All international travellers arriving into Scotland, apart from a very limited number of individual exemptions, must complete a passenger locator form and provide evidence that they have done so on arrival in the UK if requested to do so by a Border Force official.
This includes people arriving from countries where quarantine is subsequently not required.
Individuals who do not complete the form and present it when asked on arrival may be fined £60.
The fine can be doubled for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £480.
Failure to comply with the requirement to quarantine may result in a fine of £480.
Those travelling abroad should check in advance for any local requirements to quarantine on arrival at their destination.
