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Coronavirus travel: Can I go on holiday and where can I go?

Family-cheering-on-beach.Image source, Getty Images

A holiday anywhere in Spain, including the Canary and Balearic Islands, now means two weeks of quarantine for those arriving back in the UK.

Spain's removal from the list of countries classed as safer destinations to travel to follows "a significant change over the last week in both the level and pace" of coronavirus cases, the government said.

France has now had quarantine measures put in place too. People returning from the country after 4am on Saturday 15 August will have to self-isolate when they get back.

Travellers arriving into England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all affected by the new guidelines.

But which countries can you visit and what do you need to do when you return? Here's everything you need to know.

Which countries won't have to quarantine?

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Since 10 July, passengers entering the UK from dozens of countries no longer have to quarantine for 14 days on their return.

More than 50 countries - including popular holiday spots Greece and Italy - now pose ''a reduced risk'' from coronavirus, the government says.

The list focuses on countries in Europe, island nations around the world including the Caribbean, and countries further east - including Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

A further five countries - Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadine - will be added to the list on 28 July.

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The rules apply to all forms of travel; by train, ferry, coach, air or any other route.

Health measures like quarantine are set by each UK nation separately because of a political process called devolution.

Wales and Northern Ireland have introduced quarantine exclusions for the same countries as England.

Scotland is updating its own list of countries with which it is now allowing travel without quarantine.

Which countries are not on the list of quarantine exclusions?

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Image caption,

Travellers returning to the UK from Spain will have to quarantine for 14 days

You will still have to isolate for 14 days if you arrive back in the UK from Spain, France, the Netherlands, Canada, the US and much of Central or South America.

Countries in Africa, the Middle East and most of Asia are also places the government says you'll have to go into quarantine when you return to the UK.

Travellers from Sweden, Portugal, Russia and anywhere else not on the list will also have to quarantine.

The list of countries is being kept under review and could change if there's an increase in the number of cases in a country. For example Serbia, which has seen a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases, was removed from the list on 11 July.

What are the quarantine rules?

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Travellers returning to the UK from affected countries are asked to provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days. They can be fined 拢100 for failing to fill in a form with these details.

People who do not self-isolate can be fined up to 拢1,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and those returning to Scotland could be fined 拢480, with fines up to 拢5,000 for repeat offenders.

Passengers should drive in their own car to their destination, where possible. If they don't provide an address, the government will arrange accommodation at the traveller's expense.

Once at their destination, they must not use public transport or taxis during the quarantine period. They must also not go to work, school, or public areas, or have visitors except for essential support.

They are also not allowed to go out to buy food, or other essentials, if they can get others to help do it for them.

Do other countries have quarantine rules?

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UK travellers could find they also have to enter quarantine when they arrive in another country, even if they do not have to quarantine in the UK on their return.

Some countries have introduced screening measures such as temperature checks, and entry restrictions.

For example, Austria requires Britons to self-isolate unless they have a recent medical certificate or test negative for coronavirus on arrival.

Visitors to Iceland can either choose to pay for a test or go into quarantine.

Also, you are not allowed to enter Cyprus if you have been in the UK in the last 14 days.