Key ports exempt from longer self-isolation rules

Thursday 13 May 2021

Travellers passing through Poole and Southampton - which are currently category three areas - will only have to self-isolate until they get a negative covid test result, if they are coming from a category two region...

Category two regions return on Friday, with travellers returning from these areas only having to isolate until they get a negative result back from their on-arrival test.

However, there was some public concern earlier in the week that because Southampton Airport and ports at Portsmouth and Poole all sit in category 3 regions, they would end up having to isolate for a full week. 

The Civil Contingencies Authority has now agreed that if you’re coming from a category two region and travelling through one of these three ports there’ll be no change to your categorisation.

Pictured: The latest SOG region map shows Jersey being one of several category two regions.

This exemption only applies to Southampton Airport, and the Portsmouth and Poole ferry ports. You can find full lists of category two countries and regions HERE.

The CCA will be holding another live briefing on Friday at 13:00, in which the implementation of category two regions will be discussed.

It has also decided to make no changes to the prevalence threshold criteria after reviewing it this week. Category two countries and regions are still categorised as places with a covid prevalence rate of less than 30 per 100,000 for seven consecutive days.