Coronavirus and quarantine after arriving in England from an amber list country: 12 to 17 July 2021

• Data collected from 12 to 17 July 2021 show that the majority (83%) of adults arriving in England from an amber list country or territory fully adhered to coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine requirements.

• Around 9 in 10 respondents (91%) also took both of the required day two and day eight coronavirus tests.

• Overall, 77% of respondents were fully adherent to both quarantine and coronavirus testing requirements, which was slightly lower than the previous month (82% between 14 and 19 June 2021), though this was not a statistically significant decrease.

• Around 3 in 5 respondents (59%) fully understood the rules in place during quarantine, while the remaining 41% either misunderstood or were unsure of them.

• Around three-quarters (76%) of those arriving in the UK from an amber list country or territory had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

• Of those who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, a minority (9%) reported that being vaccinated made them less likely to adhere to quarantine requirements.

At the point of this survey, individuals who arrived in England from an amber list country or territory were required to quarantine for 10 days (unless they had a job which qualified for travel exemptions or they opted into the voluntary Test to Release scheme).

Respondents were deemed to be fully adherent to quarantine requirements if they reported that they:

• did not leave their accommodation for the full quarantine period, except to get or return a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, or to go for emergency medical treatment or hospital attendance

• did not receive any visitors, except for visitors supporting their personal care

Between 12 and 17 July 2021, 83% of adults arriving in England from an amber list country or territory reported that they fully adhered to quarantine requirements (Table 1).

In addition to quarantine, there was also a requirement for COVID-19 tests to be taken on or before day two and on or after day eight following arrival. Around 9 in 10 adults (91%) reported that they took both of these tests.

Overall, 77% of adults arriving in England from an amber list country or territory fully adhered to quarantine requirements and took both of the required COVID-19 tests.

Adherence to quarantine and testing requirements was similar among those who reside in the UK and those who usually reside elsewhere, with no statistically significant differences.

Figure 1 shows the proportion of adults arriving in England from an amber list country or territory who fully adhered to quarantine requirements and took both of the required COVID-19 tests, by selected characteristics.

The Test to Release scheme allows individuals to pay for a private COVID-19 test which can be taken after they have been in England for at least five full days. If the result is negative, quarantine can be ended at that point.

In this survey, 40% of adults opted into the scheme, and 98% of those who took their day five test had a negative result. There was no difference in adherence to quarantine requirements between those who opted into Test to Release (83%) and those who did not (83%).

Around 4 in 5 (82%) of those arriving in England from amber list countries or territories had no contact with non-household members at any point during their quarantine period.

Of those who did have contact with non-household members (17% of all respondents), 62% had contact with others while outside of their accommodation and 45% had visitors to their accommodation. A minority (7%) had both forms of contact, which represents 1% of all respondents (though these estimates are based on sample counts of less than 30 so should be treated with caution).

Respondents were asked if they believed that specified activities were permitted or not during quarantine (from a list of reasons for leaving accommodation). Respondents were deemed to have fully understood quarantine requirements if they correctly reported that all activities were not permitted, apart from going out to get or return a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, or to go for emergency medical treatment or hospital attendance.

Around 3 in 5 respondents (59%) fully understood the quarantine requirements. The remaining 41% either misunderstood (providing one or more incorrect answer) or were unsure of the requirements (providing one or more "don't know" answer).

The activity that was most likely to be mistakenly reported by respondents as allowed during quarantine was "to go to the shops" (15%).

One-fifth (20%) of respondents mistakenly believed that they could not go out to get or return a COVID-19 test during quarantine. In addition, 23% of respondents incorrectly believed that leaving accommodation for emergency medical treatment or hospital attendance was not allowed. Answers to these questions were not factored into the measure of understanding, as misunderstanding these rules would not prevent the respondent from correctly following the requirements.

Respondents were asked about their attitudes to quarantine and the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) to themselves and others.

Figure 3 shows that those who did not fully adhere to quarantine requirements were less likely than those who did fully adhere to agree that:

• it was important to follow the international arrivals quarantine guidance

• it was easy for them to quarantine

• coronavirus posed a risk to society, their friends and family, or themselves

• information from the government about coronavirus could be trusted

A pilot International Arrivals Insights Survey was carried out between 24 and 29 May 2021 and this was followed by a second survey between 14 and 19 June 2021. Information about the methods and quality of these surveys can be found in Coronavirus and quarantine after arriving in England from an amber list country: methodology.

Table 2 shows indicators of behaviour and experience during quarantine for the three survey periods.

Data collected between 12 and 17 July 2021 show that two-fifths (40%) of respondents opted into the Test to Release scheme, which was a statistically significant increase from 28% in the 24 to 29 May 2021 period. The Test to Release scheme for international travel into England began on 15 December 2020 and the increase in those opting in coincides with the implementation of the policy allowing international travel to restart on 17 May 2021.

Over half (57%) of those arriving in the UK from an amber list country had received two doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, which was a statistically significant increase from the 44% seen in the 14 to 19 June 2021 period and the 22% in the 24 to 29 May 2021 period. This is reflective of the pace of the vaccine rollout in England.

Amber list countries and territories

Countries are rated as red, amber or green for coronavirus (COVID-19) and this determines the rules which must be followed when entering England. The risk posed by individual countries and territories is continuously monitored and the red, amber and green lists are reviewed every three weeks. Countries and territories can be moved between lists if conditions change. This survey focuses only on those arriving in England from amber list countries and territories. The current list of amber countries and territories and the associated rules for those arriving from them can be found on the GOV.UK website. 

Quarantine

Prior to 19 July 2021, government guidance stated that when you arrive in England from an amber list country or territory, you must travel directly to the place you are staying and not leave until 10 days have passed. This applied to everyone regardless of vaccination status, unless they had a job which qualified for travel exemptions or they opted into the voluntary Test to Release scheme. The quarantine period was continuous from the day you arrived in England (considered "day 0") and lasted for the next 10 full consecutive days after the day you arrived up until 11:59pm on day 10. This period was necessary because it can take up to 10 days for COVID-19 symptoms to appear.

The guidance has since been updated and the latest information on quarantine and testing for those arriving from amber list countries can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Test to Release scheme

There is an option for individuals to opt into a voluntary Test to Release scheme. Under this, individuals can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test which can be taken after they have been in England for at least five full days. If the result is negative, quarantine can be ended (though it is still mandatory to take the day eight test).

Survey information

The International Arrivals Insights Survey was compiled in response to policy questions on the behaviour of individuals who have arrived in England from an amber list country or territory. The survey measured the level of understanding and adherence to quarantine requirements, adherence to testing requirements, attitudes to quarantine and coronavirus (COVID-19) risk, and the prevalence of behaviour that poses a risk of transmitting coronavirus. The survey was produced, run and analysed in a collaboration between the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The latest quality and methodology information on data from the International Arrivals Insights Survey, can be found in Coronavirus and quarantine after arriving in England from an amber list country: methodology.

Estimates for this survey

The experimental statistics included in this release are based on a survey of 848 adults (aged 18 years and over) who had arrived from an amber list country or territory, were not exempt from quarantine requirements, and were isolating at an address in England. The data were collected between 12 and 17 July 2021.

Respondents were randomly sampled using information from the Passenger Locator Form (PLF), provided to the ONS by the DHSC. The sample was stratified to be representative of the age, sex and regional distribution of the population arriving in England from amber list countries or territories on 2 and 5 July 2021.

The survey was conducted via telephone and all answers were self-reported. Of those potential respondents who were successfully contacted by an interviewer, the response rate was 50.8%. When including cases where contact was attempted but not made, the response rate was 13.4%. As with all surveys, these estimates have an associated margin of error.

Percentages in this bulletin are based on weighted counts that are representative of the population of adults who arrived in England from an amber list country or territory (and were not exempt from quarantine) between 14 June and 11 July 2021 and are adjusted to address age, sex and regional bias in responses.

Estimates for previous surveys

A pilot survey of 747 adults was conducted between 24 and 29 May 2021. The sample included adults who arrived in England from an amber list country or territory on 14 and 17 May 2021. Percentages for this survey period are based on weighted counts that are representative of the population of adults who arrived in England from an amber list country or territory between 26 April and 23 May 2021.

The policy allowing international travel to restart, governed by a new traffic light system, was implemented on 17 May 2021.

A second survey of 944 adults was conducted between 14 and 19 June 2021. The sample included adults who arrived in England from an amber list country or territory on 4 and 7 June 2021. Percentages for this period are based on weighted counts that are representative of the population of adults who arrived in England from an amber list country or territory between 17 May and 13 June 2021.

Information on the strengths and limitations of this survey are available in Coronavirus and quarantine after arriving in England from an amber list country: methodology.