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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Ketsuda Phoutinane

Latest Scotland travel rules and tests as countries cleared from red list

The current travel rules in Scotland can be hard to follow as the UK has once scrapped countries from the red list.

The red list was reintroduced on November 29 - just four weeks after it was last emptied - after the Omicron variant was identified in late November.

Now the red list is cleared once again after 11 countries were removed from the list.

The travel rule change also means anyone returning from abroad won't have to undergo mandatory hotel quarantines costing £2,285 per adult.

But travellers arriving in the Scotland still have to follow some rules and testing requirements to enter the country.

Here's the latest on travel requirements in Scotland.

What happened to the red list?

The red list in Scotland is empty again but testing before arrival is still required (Getty Images)

The red list was last cleared on November 1, but the UK added 11 African countries to the list after South African scientists identified the new variant.

Before today, the red list consisted of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced the change yesterday, saying that red list rules were becoming "less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad".

Scotland did not have to follow suit as health restrictions are devolved.

However, the Scottish Government confirmed it would also clear its red list.

What tests are required to travel now?

Travellers need to take a PCR test or lateral flow test before leaving for Scotland (AFP via Getty Images)

Travellers arriving from foreign countries still need to get tested before flying to the UK.

Those aged 12 and over will need to show proof of a negative test before boarding a flight to Scotland.

What you'll need to do is take a PCR test or lateral flow test no more than two days before your flight.

A rapid lateral flow test is accepted, but you'll need to be sure it meets the standards required, which is ≥97% specificity and ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

The Scottish Government advises that travellers will be asked to show test results again when landing in Scotland.

What about tests after arriving in Scotland?

The day two PCR after arriving is required for people aged 11 and up (Getty Images)

Everyone aged 11 and over must take a PCR test two days after arriving.

The day you arrive is day zero and the test can be taken before or on day two.

A list of accepted day two PCR test suppliers by the government is available here.

The market for PCR tests is competitive with Amazon launching budget PCR tests for travellers from £34.99 this week.

After that, those 18 and over will be required to self-isolate from arrival until they have received a negative test result.

If the test is positive, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the test result.

What if you're not vaccinated?

People who aren't vaccinated must isolate at home or the place they are staying for 10 days.

Additionally, you will need to take a PCR test on day two and day eight after arriving.

What are the travel rules for children?

Kids aged 11 and under do not have to take any Covid travel tests to enter Scotland.

But children from 12 and 17 must take a PCR or lateral flow test within two days before boarding an international flight to Scotland.

After arrival, 11 to 17-year-olds have to follow the same testing and isolation rules for fully vaccinated adults.

That means they will have to isolate as soon as they arrive, take a day two PCR test and only stop isolating once they've gotten a negative result.

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