Staying safe and healthy if travelling abroad

A cautious approach to resuming international travel is underway for people living in Scotland. In support of this, Public Health Scotland (PHS) is keen to ensure that people stay healthy and avoid illness when travelling abroad and would encourage anyone planning a trip abroad to visit fitfortravel (external website).

fitfortravel is a free, interactive, website providing travellers with up to date, country specific health information and advice. It provides advice and recommendations on vaccines and antimalarial measures and treatments that may be needed, including specific information for groups of travellers, such as people with underlying health conditions and those travelling with young children. It also contains clear information on COVID-19 health considerations, regulations and restrictions applicable before, during and after travel.

If planning to travel abroad, travellers should check whether a country they are travelling to is on the Scottish Government's red, amber or green list (external website) and ensure that they can follow the appropriate testing and isolation rules on return. Official guidance can change at short notice and this may impact planned travel.

Dr Kate Smith, Consultant in Public Health Medicine with the Travel and International Health Team at PHS, said:

“fitfortravel is a fantastic website that provides people looking to travel abroad with a wealth of general health advice, as well as the specific travel restrictions, self-isolation rules and precautions relating to COVID-19”.