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Summary
- The UK is planning to scrap quarantine rules for travellers who have been fully vaccinated and returning from amber-listed countries.
- The plan could come as a respite to the aviation industry, looking to target amber listed countries like Spain, Greece, and others for summer holidays.
- The details of the plan are still being fixed, like rules pertaining to children who are not vaccinated currently.
The government is planning to scrap quarantine rules for travellers who are fully vaccinated and returning from amber listed countries. It was reported that the government was considering whether to do away with the legally mandated self-isolation rules for those fully vaccinated coming in contact with an infected person.
If the move is finalised, it could come as a respite to travellers and the aviation industry looking to target amber listed countries like Spain, Greece, and others for summer holidays. As part of the Freedom Day 19 July plans to completely reopen the economy, the Johnson government is planning to let holidaymakers enjoy overseas travel without the hassle to isolate on return.
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It was reported by The Times that the Covid operations committee would be meeting today where ministers are expected to sign on a plan to advise the fully vaccinated to undertake daily tests after 19 July, but it would not be mandatory for them to do so.
The details of the plan are still being fixed, like rules pertaining to children who are not vaccinated currently. It is also being said that those who have been fully vaccinated would have to adhere to strict Covid testing norms before travel and two Covid tests on return. But there is a chance of reducing the Covid tests post travel to one.
The quarantine requirement of 10 days post return from travel had effectively ruled out destinations like Portugal, Spain, Greece, among others, as favoured vacation spots for UK citizens marked by Covid fatigue and desperate to venture out. As part of the plans, the government would also come up with e-gates at airports that would allow skipping queues and ease the travel experience.
Experts believe that the vaccines are now breaking the connection between cases, hospitalisations, and death, enabling policymakers to concentrate on uncoupling methods like no quarantine requirements if fully vaccinated. Others felt that those fully vaccinated could also be tested daily instead of undergoing self-isolation.
The UK government’s plans come at the backdrop of Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, opening up the EU for travel to fully vaccinated British travellers last week.
Germany had insisted on strict restrictions on UK travellers as the Delta variant broke out in the UK, which made other EU states like Greece and Spain adopt similar approaches.
As the variant is spreading throughout the EU, Merkel held a meeting with Johnson last week and suggested that for the fully vaccinated UK citizens, easing of travel restrictions could be possible.
