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European Countries Introduce New PCR Requirements

News The emergence of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 forced many European countries to tighten arrival requirements. Starting from December 7th, travelers arriving in the UK will need to take a pre-departure test (LFD or PCR). The test must be taken “as close to the departure as possible” but no more than 48 hours before it. The rule applies to everyone aged 12 or older.

Last week, 21 Omicron cases were reported in the UK, increasing the total number of cases to 134. The majority of the infected people returned from South Africa and Nigeria. Moreover, the UK introduced a new temporary travel ban for all international travelers who were in Nigeria at least 10 days prior to their arrival in the UK. This rule doesn’t apply to citizens and residents of the UK and Ireland, as well as travelers who only transited through Nigeria.

Moreover, the UK added 10 countries to its red list. Vaccinated passengers from these countries, who are coming to the UK, need to take two PCR tests on the same day and then self-isolate waiting for a negative result. As Omicron has a shorter period between infection and infectiousness, pre-departure tests are more efficient as passengers are likely to get a positive result before the flight. Travelers coming from countries that are not on the red list are also required to have a negative PCR or LFD test taken no longer than 48 hours before departure. This rule applies to children aged 12 or above and vaccinated travelers. In the wake of new requirements, hotels in London, Edinburgh, and other UK cities expect a new wave of booking cancelations that are going to destroy the already weak Christmas season.

France introduced a similar rule. Starting from December 4th, all travelers arriving from non-EU countries are obliged to have a negative PCR test on hand. Without it, passengers will not be allowed to enter France. The rule applies to both vaccinated and non-vaccinated tourists, as well as children aged 12 and above. Neither home tests nor antigen tests are accepted.

Travelers coming from the Schengen zone only need a PCR test if they are not vaccinated. This test must be taken no longer than 24 hours before the arrival. Before the new rule, passengers coming from the UK and non-EU countries could freely enter France with proof of vaccination and a declaration form.

10.12.2021

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Individual City Guides

Ostuni
Ostuni travel guide
In South Italy, tourists enjoy visiting the coast of the Adriatic Sea. This is the location of a miraculously beautiful city called Ostuni. Quite often, you can hear tourists use another name for this settlement – Italy’s White City. This name is not random. Almost all buildings in Ostuni are painted in white and look like they merge to create one giant construction. That being said, this is not the only peculiarity that makes Ostuni so interesting to visit. The city has managed to keep its … Read further
Donetsk
Cuisine of Donetsk
Thanks to a large number of luxurious restaurants and charming cafes, Donetsk is ready to please even most discerning foodies. Guests of the city should definitely visit local cafes and restaurants that please their visitors not only with delicious food but also with an interesting entertaining program. Stylish and eye-catching, Bruderschaft is famous as one of the best restaurants in the city. In the menu of this dining establishment, visitors will find the most popular Italian, French, … Read further
Almere-Stad
Traditions and festivals in Almere-Stad
Almere can be fairly called the youngest city in the Netherlands. Its construction began in 1976. It is also the largest, with 216,000 inhabitants, agglomeration of the Flevoland region, which is the seventh biggest in the country. The decision to build a new city was caused by the growing community of the Netherlands and an attempt to meet the needs of housing construction. New residential and public buildings, shops and schools, built on polder territories, were "restored" from the sea, … Read further
Johannesburg
Johannesburg cultural sights
A beautiful modern city with rich historical heritage, every year Johannesburg attracts numerous travelers from around the world. The center of the city is the most attractive area for walking. This is also the location of a significant part of excursion sites. Johannesburg is often called “the city of gold” because it was founded around a famous mine, in which gold mining was carried out during several decades. Today the gold mine has been converted into an open air museum. This … Read further
Shenzhen
Shenzhen attractions and entertainment
Shenzhen is an ideal destination for active travelers. Thanks to the variety of amusement parks, shopping malls, wonderful gardens and park areas, each and every tourist can choose a suitable place to relax and have fun. Nature enthusiasts should not ignore Shenzhen Safari Park . This large-scale zoo inhabited by representatives of African fauna is well-equipped and really beautiful. You can travel around the park only by a special car; the situation in Safari Park is so realistic that it … Read further
Lublin
Lublin for families and kids
A great place to spend a vacation is the Polish city of Lublin. It has a lot of attractions worthy of a visit (The Lublin Castle, the Krakow Gate, the Fara Square, the Dominican Church and Monastery), and it is definitely worth taking kids with you so that they can experience the culture from an early age. Apart from that, Lublin has many interesting places for children of any age group - parks, entertainment centers, swimming pools. Arriving in Lublin, you should first take them to Aqua … Read further
Favignana Island
Shopping in Favignana Island
Be sure to bring a Pinnocio from Favignava. The doll is a national Italian symbol. You can buy it in any size, from a keychain or magnet to a big toy in human growth. Pinocchio is something like a hero in Italy, that’s why this toy is very popular among tourists and locals. Puppets are also very popular here. If you visit Favignava on New Year holidays, you will find Befana or Epifania doll in the local shops. It acts as Santa and brings gifts for children. Do not pass by the most famous … Read further
Manila
Extreme and fun in Manila
Climb the Ramparts of Fort Santiago. The Spanish built Fort Santiago of stone near the Pasig River in the 16th century. The Japanese used it as a prison. The Filipino hero Jose Rizal spent the night in it before his execution. If you come to the historic district of Manila called Intramuros you will have the opportunity to take a tour of the fort. You will be able to walk around the garden. There is a pond with blooming lotuses here. You can also take photos with a bronze statue of a monk, look … Read further
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