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Covid-19

, Rock & Sun

Last update 13th January 2022

The test and go programme as described in the update of November 29th (see below) was suspended as of December 22nd 2021. Only the 7 night sandbox programme in Phuket remained in place. But now Thailand is reopening its borders once again.

Since January 11th 2022, fully vaccinated international travellers can also enter Thailand under the Sandbox programme at either Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), in addition to Phuket. Source: Tourism authority Thailand TATnews.org

What does this mean? Being fully vaccinated and with a negative pre-departure pcr test, you can fly into Krabi airport. You will have to book 7 nights in a SHA+ certified hotel in Ao Nang. You will be tested on arrival and again on day 5. Under the conditions that both these pcr tests are negative, you are free to enjoy your holiday in the ‘Krabi sandbox’. Including climbing, going out for dinner and drinks, going to the beach, having a massage etc. After 7 nights you are free to travel anywhere in Thailand.

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Last update 29th November 2021

From December 1st 2021 new rules will apply for UK passengers entering Spain. The Spanish government requires all arrivals to Spain from the UK (excluding children under the age of 12 years old) to present on entry proof of being fully vaccinated (with both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a one-dose vaccine) at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain (date(s) of vaccination must be specified), with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation.

All passengers (including children under 12 years old) travelling by air or sea must complete and sign an online Health Control Form no more than 48 hours prior to travel. For full details, please check GOV UK.

 

At the moment of writing, entry rules for EU travellers remain unchanged. Travellers with an EU passport can travel between EU countries with a Digital Corona Certificate (DCC), which can be either a proof of full vaccination, a proof of having recovered from Covid-19, or a proof of a negative PCR or antigen test less than 72 hours prior arrival.

 

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Last update 17th November 2021

Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand

From 1 November 2021, fully vaccinated, people arriving from 63 countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Sweden and the United States can enter Thailand. More information on entry requirements and the full list of 63 countries are on the Tourism Authority of Thailand website.

Required Documents before entering Thailand:

  • A Certificate of Vaccination (fully vaccinated) with an approved vaccine at least 14 days before travelling.
  • A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling (all travellers).
  • A confirmed payment for a 1-night stay at SHA+, AQ, OQ, or AHQ accommodation, and 1 RT-PCR test. (SHA+ are venues with public health measures in place for COVID-19 and with more than 70% of employees in the organisation fully vaccinated. You can find SHA+ hotels on booking.com) (AQ = Alternative Quarantine) (OQ = Organisation Quarantine) (AHQ = Alternative Hospital Quarantine)
  • An insurance policy with coverage no less than US$50,000.
  • Register for a Thailand Pass at https://tp.consular.go.th/. Upload the required document (along with the valid visa/re-entry permit, if required), and allow 3-5 working days for the approval process. Wait for the approval of the Vaccine Certification and paid accommodation, including the RT-PCR test. Confirm the approval, and receive a Thailand Pass QR Code (or COE).

Arrival in Thailand:
(1) Present the Thailand Pass QR Code (or COE) to the Health Control to carry out checks, then proceed through the Immigration procedures.
(2) Undergo the RT-PCR COVID-19 test at the reserved accommodation, or the pre-arranged test centre.
(3) Proceed to the hotel by the pre-arranged airport transfer. (Distance from the airport within 2 hours.)
(4) Download and install the MorChana application at the hotel.

During your stay in Thailand:
(5) Wait for the test result within the hotel room.
(6) If testing negative for COVID-19, you will receive an Antigen Test Kit (ATK) for COVID-19 self-testing on Day 6-7.
(7) Get an alert for the self ATK testing on Day 6-7, and to record the result in the MorChana application.
(8) Practice the D-M-H-T-T-A precautions: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Handwashing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application.
(9) Free to go anywhere in Thailand or leave Thailand to other countries.

 

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Last update 8th July 2021

Holidaymakers from England travelling to amber list countries will not have to quarantine on return if they are fully vaccinated. The rule change will take effect from 19 July. (source: The Guardian)

 

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Last update 30th June 2021

From July 2nd UK travellers entering Spain will need to show that they are either fully vaccinated or have a negative PCR test.

Currently UK travellers need to quarantine for 10 days after a visit to Spain, as Spain is on UK’s list of amber countries. There is talk about fully vaccinated travellers not having to quarantine on return in the UK but this decision has not yet been made official.

 

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Last update 24th May 2021

Since today, May 24th, UK travellers are able to visit Spain without having to present a negative PCR test. Both Spain’s official state bulletin and the country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have said that Britons are welcomed without restrictions and health requirements. Spanish authorities have attributed the lifting of previous restrictions to the UK’s advanced vaccination campaign and the importance of British visitors for the country’s tourism industry.

From May 24th, travellers from the United Kingdom will be allowed to freely enter Spain for non-essential purposes, such as tourism, and stay in Spain without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days within 6 months. Travellers from the United Kingdom will NOT need to present a negative COVID-19 test certificate (PCR), as long as they have remained in the UK in the last 14 days. They do still need to fill in a health form.

There’s also the fact that Spain is set to allow all other citizens from non-EU nations to visit Spain from June 7th, as long as they’ve been vaccinated, whereas this requirement hasn’t been included for British visitors by Spanish authorities. (source: thelocal.es)

Currently UK travellers need to quarantine for 10 days after a visit to Spain, as Spain is on UK’s list of amber countries. It is expected that Spain will be on the green list from June 7th, which would take away the need to quarantine on return in the UK.

 

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Last update 24th March 2021

Spain will lift its ban on travel from the UK from March 30th. Government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero told a news conference that while restrictions on flights from South Africa and Brazil, initially due to expire on March 30th, would be extended until April 13 because of concerns over Covid-19 variants there, they would be lifted for Britain. From March 30th, passengers travelling to Spain from the UK will have to show a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before travel.

International travel is currently banned in the UK under most circumstances, but according to the new coronavirus laws coming into force on March 29th, non-essential foreign travel will be banned until June 30. The law says no-one may “leave England to travel to a destination outside the United Kingdom, or travel to, or be present at, an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling from there to a destination outside the United Kingdom” without a reasonable excuse. It suggests anyone who breaks such rules could face a £5,000 fine. The Prime Minister said he hoped to give more information about foreign travel on April 5, a week before the Government’s global travel task force is due to report.

Exemptions apply for those needing to travel for work, study, for legal obligations or to vote, if they are moving, selling or renting property, for some childcare reasons or to be present at a birth, to visit a dying relative or close friend, to attend a funeral, for those getting married or to attend the wedding of a close relative, for medical appointments or to escape a risk of harm.

 

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Last update 22nd March

Spain has reopened bars and restaurants during daytime hours. The 22pm curfew is still in place, and until April 4th, in-country travel is limited to provincial boundaries. People are allowed to do outdoor exercise with people from other households. In reality, when taking the usual social distancing measures as well as face covering, this means your climbing holiday is hardly affected by current regulations.

At this point, the Spanish border is open for European tourists (compulsory to show a negative PCR test result on arrival taken less than 72 hours before), but the border is closed for UK tourists. With the number of vaccinated people going up, and the number of infections going down, it is expected that this will be reviewed after Easter.

Those who come to Spain for a climbing holiday will need to have a negative PCR test result less than 72 hours before flying back home. We recommend booking your PCR test with HCB International. They have branches in Calpe, Moraira and Benidorm. The ‘travel pack’ which includes a PCR plus Antigen test costs 120 euros. The test result will be sent to you by email within 24 hours. Please visit their website for more information on their opening hours, and how to make your appointment.

 

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Last update 23rd February

The UK government has announced the roadmap back to normality. Important dates for planning your next Climbing Course or Holiday are:

From March 29th it is allowed to apply the ‘rule of six’ in outdoor environments; it is allowed to meet people from another household outdoors. This opens up the opportunity for our Intro Rock Weekend, Learn to Lead Sport Course, and Learn to Lead Trad Course which we have scheduled from the weekend of 3rd and 4th April onwards. Please do get in touch if you would like to book alternative dates than those advertised on our website – we will do our best to accommodate everyone to climb outdoors again as soon as possible!

From May 17th international travel for leisure purposes is back on! We are expecting a wave of climbers to fly to us in Spain to have the most amazing climbing holiday and climb all those new routes we have developed in the past year! Have a look at our Costa Blanca webpage to see availability on our Long Weekends, Climbing Holidays and Performance Coaching Courses.

 

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Last update 5th February

The UK has announced a new regulation which will start on Febuary 15th: people coming back to the UK after having visited a list of 30 high-risk countries will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. Please note that SPAIN IS NOT ON THIS LIST.

Until February 15th, Bars in Spain are closed, and Restaurants are only open for take-aways. Outdoor exercise is allowed in pairs of two people, with a max. number of six people.

 

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Last update 15th December

Spain has changed their entry requirements; travellers can enter the country with a negative test result of the cheaper, faster and widely available TMA and LAMP tests.

The website Travel Safe Spain gives detailed and up-to-date information about what to do before, during and after your holiday in Spain. Summarised and applied to a Rock & Sun Climbing holiday, it looks as follows:

 

  • Spain requires all incoming travellers to have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test carried out within 72 hours prior to your arrival in Spain. Accepted tests are PCR, TMA, and other tests based on similar molecular techniques (LAMP test). The TMA and LAMP tests, which take 2 hours, are being offered for around £80 at some British airports (f.i. London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, East Midlands).
  • This means everyone coming on a Rock and Sun trip has had a negative test result.
  • Groups of 6 people are allowed to mix indoors, for example in the villa.
  • In vehicles, in supermarkets and public spaces: wear a face mask and regularly use hand sanitiser.
  • Accommodation: the villa is spacious and allows for distancing. Hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes are available to clean surfaces after use.
  • Booking a single room is still recommended but no longer compulsory.
  • Climbing: at crag masks are not required, yet can be worn out of personal choice. Some of the measures in place are: regular use of liquid chalk, each person has their own belay device, and keep distance from others at crag (on request we can email you our detailed Covid-19 adjusted operating procedures document).
  • Restaurants and bars are open as normal for sit down meals as well as take-aways.
  • Travel back home: after 5 days of quarantine, you can get a PCR-test. If the result is negative, you can come out of quarantine.

 

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Last update 24th November

BBC News Today: “Arrivals in England to be able to cut quarantine if they pay for test”. From December 15th, people arriving in England will be able to reduce their quarantine period by more than half if they pay for a Covid test after five days, the transport secretary has announced. If the test comes back negative, they will no longer need to self-isolate. Results will normally be issued in 24 to 48 hours. This means people could be released from quarantine six days after arrival.

 

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Last update 23rd November

(Source: SkyNews) Three Covid-19 vaccines on the way: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca. All have reported they are around 90% effective in late stage trials. The Pfizer vaccine offers 95% protection against the virus within 28 days of the first dose. Moderna’s results indicate 94.5% effectiveness but it said the trials are ongoing and the final number could change. The Oxford trial found with two doses its vaccine was 62% effective, but when people were given a half dose followed by a full dose at least a month later its efficacy rose to 90%.

Availability in the UK according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock: Pfizer vaccine – 40 million doses; Moderna vaccine – 5 million doses; Oxford/AstraZeneca – 100 million doses.

 

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Last update 11th November

(Source: Spainenglish.com) From 23 November, in order to be allowed into Spain, visitors ‘from a high risk country’ will have to show they have tested negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours prior to travelling. Failure to show a negative PCR test, if required to do so, could result in a fine of up to €6,000.

The criteria for a country of high risk will be determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The ECDC publishes weekly maps with the current risk status of each country using a traffic light system of green, orange or red, as determined by the 14-day incidence and positivity rates of Covid-19. At the moment [11 Nov], only Norway, Finland and parts of Greece are not ‘red zone’ (high risk) countries.

 

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Last update 26th October

On Sunday October 25th, the Spanish prime minister approved a new state of alarm, imposing an obligatory nationwide curfew between 11pm and 6am, and limiting social meetings to 6 people. The Prime Minister also provided regional governments the option to prohibit travel in and out of their territories unless it is justified. These measures are initially established for 15 days – but could remain in place until May 9, 2021. The state of alarm will not see the closure of Spain’s borders, as was the case during the first wave of the pandemic. The government has no intention of returning to the total lockdown of March and the almost total shutdown of the economy that this involved. (Source: english.elpais.com)

The Valencia area (the Costa Blanca) has had low number of cases throughout the Covid-19-pandemic, so it is not expected that the Valencian regional government will prohibit travel in and out of their province.

For Rock & Sun clients these measures have little to no effect; people are allowed to travel to Spain, and are allowed to travel from Alicante Airport to our accommodation and the climbing areas in the Jalon valley and Calpe area. Rock & Sun already worked on the basis of a max group size of 6.

 

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Last update 24th August

During the Covid-19 pandemic we receive many questions regarding people’s travel insurance. Many insurers do not provide cover while there is a negative FCO travel advice in place. Nor will they cover you if you have to cancel your trip due to a Covid-19 related issue.

Rock & Sun is a member of the Travel Trust Association, the branch organisation for the travel industry, which means we are in the fortunate position to receive advice regarding this matter. We can inform you that Holiday Extras has launched their Covid Bubble Protection. We have been informed that this provides cover for:

– Cancellation of trip if a customer catches Covid-19 before travelling

– Cancellation of trip if a travelling companion or family member catches Covid-19

– Denial of boarding for the return flight due to a suspected case of Covid-19 (Platinum only)

– Cancellation or cutting a trip short due to changes in FCO advice caused by fire, flood, storm, earthquake, riot or civil unrest.

To cover the climbing activities during your holiday, we also recommend you to have a look at the insurance policies offered by the Austrian Alpine Club and British Mountaineering Council.

Please note that Rock & Sun does not take responsibility for travel insurance. It is always the client’s responsibility to check the insurer’s terms and conditions.

 

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Last update 3rd July

The Foreign Office is changing its advice against all but essential travel to a number of countries from Saturday the 4th of July. Among these countries are Spain, France, Italy and Germany. People arriving back in England from these countries will no longer need to quarantine from the 10th of  July, the Department for Transport has confirmed.

 

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Last update 14th June

Spain will open its borders for international tourists from June 22nd, earlier than what was originally decided (1 July). Thermal imaging cameras are being installed at Alicante Airport to check the temperature of passengers arriving on international flights.

In England you are able to meet outdoors and exercise or play sport with groups of up to six people from different households, provided social distancing is observed and you stay 2 metres away from anyone outside your household or support bubble. You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance, as long as you can return the same night and do not put others at risk because of services you may need in the time you are away. You should continue to avoid using public transport and should cycle, walk or drive wherever possible.

 

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Last update 12th June

The price of our Climbing Weeks and Long Weekends is based on sharing a room with a person of the same gender as you. **For everyone’s health and safety, to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19, all clients will for the foreseeable future be obligated to take a single room supplement, unless travelling with and sharing a room with someone of their own household.** If you would like to receive more detailed information on our adjusted Operating Procedures for Climbing, Accommodation and Transport under Covid-19, please contact us.

 

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Last update 26th May

Tourists will be able to visit Spain from 1 July without having to quarantine for two weeks. The government said cabinet ministers made the decision to lift the mandatory coronavirus quarantine during a meeting on Monday the 25th of May.

On May 21st Easyjet announced to resume flights initially between the UK, France and Barcelona from June 15th. The carrier will introduce enhanced cleaning and disinfection of its aircraft, make disinfectant wipes and hand sanitiser available on board, and require all passengers and cabin crew, as well as ground crew, to wear masks.

On May 12th Ryanair announced they intend to run almost 1,000 flights a day from 1 July and to restore 90% of its pre-pandemic route network.

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Rock and Sun statement of 10th April

On April 9th, the Spanish government has further extended the State of Alarm till April 26th. We have contacted all clients of Rock & Sun who had booked their climbing holiday with us in Spain in this period to provide further information and an offer to postpone their trip.

The UK government is expected to extend their lockdown beyond the original three week period that started March 23rd (due to end April 13th), but no official announcement of this has been made yet. So at the moment, all UK courses starting after April 13th are scheduled to go ahead as planned.

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Rock and Sun statement of 24th March

On March 22nd, Spanish president Pedro Sánchez informed all regional leaders that the state of alarm that was called on March 14 for two weeks due to the Covid-19 crisis will be extended for another 15 days, till April 12th. We have contacted all clients of Rock & Sun who had booked their climbing holiday with us in Spain in this period to provide further information and an offer to postpone their trip.

On March 23rd, UK Government introduced three new measures that are in effect for 3 weeks (April 13th). 1) Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes. 2) Closing non-essential shops and community spaces. 3) Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public. Following these new measures, the BMC and mountain rescue teams advise all climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers to stay in their home area and put all climbing and hill walking on hold. Rock & Sun see it as our duty to take responsibility for the health and safety of both our clients and our instructors and have offered a postponement to all clients who had booked a climbing course or Private Guiding with us in the UK before April 13th.

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Rock and Sun statement of 18th March

If you are following the recent UK government advice to self-isolate or to limit non-essential travel, then of course we respect and support your decision to try to limit the spread of Covid-19. We will offer to postpone your place on a climbing course/holiday to a later, mutually convenient date. (This offer applies to courses/holidays in the UK and abroad that commence in the period between March 17th and April 17th 2020)

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

Please also see our Booking Terms and Conditions

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17th March 2020 – A message from Protectivity

If you have taken travel insurance out with our recommended supplier, Protectivity – then they have informed us that if Rock & Sun offer to postpone a trip due to the country of your destination closing its borders in order to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 virus, they will in turn be happy to postpone the insurance cover for 12 months.

So – if you have received an email from us postponing your trip and you have taken out insurance with Protectivity, please do check with them that this is still the case and be safe in the knowledge that you do not have to take out another policy for your postponed trip.

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Rock and Sun statement of 16th March

In attempt to limit the spread of Covid-19, the Spanish Government announced on 14th March that all but essential travel to and in Spain is prohibited. The current situation in Spain only allows travel to and from work, essential shops, pharmacies and hospitals, etc. Restaurants and bars have been asked to close and social events, gatherings and festivals are forbidden. This will stay in force for 15 days – currently until 29 March.

Following this national state of alarm, the FEMECV (Federacio d’Esports de Muntanya i Escalada de la Comunitat Valenciana) has declared today, on March 16th, that Sports and leisure activities are suspended, both in closed spaces (climbing walls, sports centers …) and open spaces (trails, climbing areas, via ferratas …). There are penalties in the event of non-compliance.

We are therefore forced to cancel all climbing holidays, courses and private guiding which were due to commence in the Costa Blanca on any date in between March 14th and March 29th (the current end date of the State of Alarm declared by the Spanish government).

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Rock and Sun statement of 13th March

Keep Calm and Carry on with your Holiday

We advise those holidaymakers who have already booked their holidays for this year should  wait and see what comes of the Corona virus over the next few months before considering taking any action.

“It’s a very unsettling time at the moment, and a number of customers have been calling us to check what they should do about the holidays they have booked.  Our advice is to wait and see.  Its’ still too early to speculate on what may or may not happen over the course of the coming months.”

For people who are looking to book their holiday or course, they should make sure that their travel insurance is taken out immediately if not before booking their trip and that it provides a robust level of cover. See our advice and link below.

The chief scientific advisor to the UK Government, Sir Patrick Vallance, said: “Once the epidemic is everywhere, then actually restricting travel makes no difference at all.”

If you have any concerns and the information below does not answer your questions, please contact Lesley at Rock and Sun: who will do her best to help.

 

Single Room Discount

Many of our clients enquiring about a climbing holiday are worried about sharing a room with someone else because of Covid-19. We understand your concerns and therefore offer, as of 13/03/2020, a 50% discount on all single room supplements. During the booking process, please use this code to claim your discount: COVID-19-50.

 

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Rock & Sun statement of 10th March

Corona Virus – Advice to Clients

Clearly the situation with the virus is a concern to us all and as members of the Travel Trust Association (TTA) we have access to the best support.

The health and safety of our staff and clients is always our priority however as the situation is changing daily, it is imperative that individuals take responsibility for themselves and also consider others before travelling.

As of today, March 10th 2020, Rock & Sun will be limiting operations to destinations that we believe present a lower risk of us not being able to fulfil our responsibilities in providing your holiday or course. Therefore, until further notice, those destinations will be Spain and the United Kingdom.

Holidays in other locations which already have bookings will all go ahead as planned, provided it is safe and practical to do so.

With effect from today, all bookings in Spain and the United Kingdom will be honoured. Should the country of destination refuse entry, or airlines cancel flights in and/or out of your travel destination due to Covid-19, Rock & Sun will offer a postponement to a later date with the provision that we are provided with the following information:

  1. proof of insurance, which should be taken out prior or at the time of booking
  2. proof of your insurer refusing to pay out

Please note that our offer to postpone the date of the aforementioned holidays or courses is not part of any legal obligation or responsibility but a gesture of courtesy and goodwill to our clients.

Further Information

Currently, the only information that is available to us is via the UK Government websites and the FCO, details of which are below and we would urge you to take a look at each.

For latest updates relating to the Coronavirus outbreak please visit the Government website for more information on the risks and advice on the preventative measures.

The Importance of Travel Insurance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus will lead you to travel insurance implications – the link is at the bottom of the page.

Health Information

Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice for the country they are travelling to, which includes entry requirements and a link through to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website that provides specific travel health advice for countries. NaTHNaC advise that travellers currently in countries that are reporting cases of Novel Coronavirus, otherwise known as Coronavirus or COVID-19, should follow local public health advice. Travellers should keep up to date on the country advice during their visit.

Enhanced health screening procedures have been put in place at arrival and departure areas in many countries. Travellers should comply with these processes and take relevant preventative measures to reduce the risk of exposure.