UK travel - What Did We Learn?
This information is for those based in the UK. As soon as there is news from other countries, we’ll announce and discuss it here.
So what did we learn today?
When travel for holidays opens up, we must follow the guidelines of entry to each country. These are likely to come out over the next 4-6 weeks.
On return to the UK, we must take action depending on what colour the country we have visited is classified as.
Green: No isolation needed on return to the UK - although pre-departure and post-arrival tests required.
Amber: Likely to be a 10-day quarantine at home on return to the UK, with the possibility of an early release with a negative test.
Red: 10-day quarantine in a hotel.
This is promising. Combine this with Italy’s current plan to stay in strict lockdown for the month of April and offer everyone a vaccine before September, alongside its testing capacity, Italy is doing a good job of trying to get on that green list.
In the next week we’ll get more detail on Italy’s plan for the next month and the detail of what the Global Travel Task Force recommend.
Italy is describing April as a turning point - a chance to ramp up vaccines, hit those targets and have everyone in strict lockdown to drive the virus down.
While we wait, it’s worth weighing up the risks as, if you’re planning your wedding this year, you’ll know that the sooner you make a decision, the sooner your mind can rest and the more likely you are to get another date / save some money and reduce your risks.
Things to think through:
- What if you test positive just before you’re meant to go to Italy? Think about changing your plans so the bridal party get there well in advance of the wedding and there’s no risk of getting stuck at home.
- What if Italy changes to red before your wedding? Will you go ahead with a smaller guest count that are willing to quarantine? Will you reschedule/cancel the wedding? (if so, what are your supplier policies on doing so close to the wedding?)
- What If Italy changes to red while you’re away? There’s usually some notice when countries change colour (based on last year this was 1-2 weeks) giving you time to change plans / head home earlier if it’s possible.
The rules on weddings and what will be possible in Italy won’t be with us till May at the earliest. So there’s more patience required. Not at all easy.
Our advice remains the same, if these risks and uncertainty are too much to carry, consider your options; downsize, move the wedding, try and hold a back up date with suppliers or cancel the wedding. Only you know what’s best for you once everything has been considered.
If you’re a W&W couple, you know where we are if you want to talk. We’ll speak to you on Thursday with the group.
If you’re not, we recommend joining the La Lista Facebook group here. Over at La Lista we’ll be hosting a covid Q&A Sat, 17th April at 10am. And to stay up to date with all our covid advice, sign up to our monthly email Lucy’s Letters.
Lots of love to everyone at this tough time,
L & D x
*Source: BBC News.