From July 19, fully vaccinated UK residents arriving in England from amber travel list destinations will be exempt from quarantine. They will, however, be responsible for paying for Covid testing both before and after their return, according to the transport secretary. Under-18s returning from amber list locations would also be excused from quarantine, according to Grant Shapps. The development was hailed as a “good step” by travel industry experts, who called for the amber list to be enlarged. Anyone returning from a country on the amber or red list is currently required to isolate for ten days, regardless of immunization status. Mr Shapps explained that a full vaccination means “14 days have passed after your final dose of the vaccine,” and that only immunizations administered by the NHS will be considered. However, he stated that officials were “planning to extend our strategy to vaccinated travellers from significant markets and vacation destinations, such as the United States and the EU, later this summer.” Northern Ireland intends to implement the move on July 26, while Scotland and Wales have stated that they will explore adopting the same restrictions. How can I show that I’ve got both Covid vaccinations? According to travel executives, the job on holiday rules isn’t done yet. What are the travel restrictions for those who have both jabs? Fully-jabbed people returning from countries on the Amber List will still be required to take a test three days before they return and on the second day after they return, but they will no longer be required to do a test on day eight. “In effect, this means that the standards for fully vaccinated passengers for green and amber list nations are the same,” Mr Shapps told MPs. He also stated that, as of July 19, when most Covid laws in England are set to expire, the advice that individuals should not go to countries on the amber list will be deleted. He did warn, though, that “an amber list country could still turn red,” implying that hotel quarantine would be required. After a review of the most recent statistics, all of England’s 19 July regulation amendments are expected to be confirmed on July 12. image credit: Reuters More than 50 countries are on the strictest red list, which requires arrivals to pay to self-isolate in a hotel. Fewer than 30 destinations are on the green list, which means travelers do not have to self-isolate when they return to the UK, while more than 50 countries are on the strictest red list, which requires arrivals to pay to self-isolate in a hotel. However, the majority of destinations, including popular vacation areas such as mainland Spain, Greece, and the United States, are on the amber list. On July 15, the countries on the green, red, and amber lists will be reviewed again. “We had the choice of just stating people wouldn’t be able to travel until every single last individual had been vaccinated – or at least starting to open things up,” the transport secretary later told the BBC. Mr Shapps stated that testing is “essential to keep people safe” and to prevent variations from entering the UK, but he disagreed that the rules would continue to put many families out of business. Nearly 400 providers are listed on the government website as doing the exams that fully vaccinated travelers would need to take upon their return. Prices start at £2.49, with the majority falling between £50-£100. The Foreign Office, which gives independent travel advice that may influence travel insurance, is emphasizing that not all amber countries will be allowed for foreign travel on July 19. It has, however, amended its approved list, adding France, Greece, Morocco, Switzerland, the United States, Jamaica, and mainland Spain to the amber list. For the first time in a long time, travel executives are thrilled. Today’s announcement is a substantial shift, allowing for far more overseas travel than was previously conceivable this year. There are, however, some limitations. This policy only applies to people who are vaccinated in the UK; those who are vaccinated overseas will still be required to quarantine if they are from an amber list nation. This will have an impact on some family and friends who are hoping to reconnect, as well as businesses that rely on international visitors, as those customers will not return in the same numbers as UK visitors. Tests are still necessary from nations on the green and amber lists. Some people will be put off by the cost of travel. Importantly, this provision only applies to visitors to the United Kingdom. It’s a different story whether other countries will welcome UK visitors. The rule change, according to Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, is a “good step toward the genuine reopening the sector has been striving for.” “The UK should open up travel to fully vaccinated persons from more countries – particularly our critical partners in the US – by the end of July,” said John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow. The government, however, is “in risk of repeating the same mistakes that allowed the Delta form to take root in the UK,” according to MP Caroline Lucas, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus. Katherine Wood, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, said the government adjustments were disappointing for young people who had already given a “great amount” during the pandemic. “They should have waited until the vast majority of individuals, especially young people, had been double-vaccinated before modifying any laws,” the 26-year-old added, “because I really feel disenfranchised by what’s transpired.” The traffic light system establishes the regulations that travelers must observe when returning home. Holidaymakers must, however, examine the entrance requirements for their trip. Non-vaccinated visitors to mainland Portugal, for example, must pass a Covid test and be quarantined for 14 days. Quarantine is not required for children aged 12 to 17 traveling with fully vaccinated parents, although a negative test is required. Children under the age of 11 are exempt. Only fully vaccinated adults are permitted to visit Malta, and a negative test is not required. Children between five to eleven years old are allowed to travel with fully vaccinated adults, but must pass a negative test. A test is not required for children under the age of five. Unvaccinated 12 to 17-year-olds are not permitted to attend. A negative test or confirmation of immunization is required for everyone above the age of 12 traveling to Spain. Unvaccinated visitors are allowed to enter France only for “essential reasons” and must self-isolate for seven days. Adults who have been fully vaccinated and have had a negative test can enter. Self-isolation is not required for children under the age of 18 who are traveling with fully vaccinated adults. Chancellor Rishi Sunak previously told the BBC that the government was considering a “more reasonable and balanced approach” to isolation for Covid contacts, in addition to modifying the regulations around travel isolation. It comes amid concerns that an increase in cases would force millions of people to self-isolate throughout the summer, even if they are properly vaccinated. To allow more people to be vaccinated, the obligation for double-jabbed people to isolate after contact with a positive case is slated to stop on August 16, four weeks after the remainder of England’s Covid requirements are set to end. Mr Sunak conceded that the NHS contact tracing software may continue to order the double jabs to isolate caused him “frustration.” Dr Jenny Harries, the head of the UK Health Security Agency, urged people to keep using the app, saying it had helped to detect about 500,000 cases to date, but said work was being done to “tune” it to operate within the vaccinated population so it was there “for a purpose, not for annoyance,” according to the Commons Public Accounts Committee. In the United Kingdom, over 65 percent of adults have gotten two vaccinations, and 86 percent have had one. On Thursday, a total of 32,551 new UK coronavirus cases were reported, up marginally from Wednesday and bringing the total number of positive coronavirus tests in the pandemic to over five million. There were also 35 more people who died. PERFORMING RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS (RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS): What happens when we treat strangers with kindness? “MY DISABILITY WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR”: Why are women with disabilities more likely to be harassed? Have the topics highlighted in this story had an impact on you? Send an email to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your thoughts and experiences. If you are willing to speak with a BBC journalist, please include your phone number. You can also contact us using the following methods: +44 7756 165803 (WhatsApp) Have your say on Twitter: @BBC HaveYourSay Here you can upload your photos and videos. Alternatively, you can use the form below. Please read our terms and conditions as well as our privacy statement. If you can’t see the form on this page, go to the BBC’s mobile website to submit your question or remark, or email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Any entry should include your name, age, and location. Lockdown measures for the Coronavirus Shapps, Grant Pandemic of Coronavirus Vaccines against the Coronavirus Transportation Department/n
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