The United Kingdom U.K. has confirmed that the fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to quarantine upon arriving back in the UK from the end of this month.
Grant Shapps, the UK's Transport Secretary who disclosed this during a Parliament meeting on Monday, says that the vaccinated travelers returning to the country from Amber list countries will no longer have to isolate when they arrive.
“I can confirm today from July 19, UK residents who are fully vaccinated through the UK vaccine rollout will no longer have to self-isolate when they return to England. Travelers will still have to take a pre-departure test three days before they go and a Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) test on or before day two of their return”. Grant Shapps says.
According to Him, the change would apply to people 14 days after their second vaccination. Under these new rules, children under the age of 18 returning from amber-list countries will not be isolated on their return, nor will they have to take a Covid-19 test on day 8. Children between the ages of 5 and 10 will undergo a 2-day test. While children from age 4 and below are excluded from testing and isolation. Travel rules for children have been a big concern for families to travel for relaxation, business and to see other families in amber list countries.
Stewart Wingate, the chief executive of Gatwick Airport, while responding to the news says. “We are approaching a crucial time for our industry, since summer holidays are around the corner and we encourage the government to remove other barriers inhibiting international travel, including the need for costly PCR tests for those who have been double vaccinated. Plans to open up travel to amber countries for those who have received both doses of the National Health Services (NHS) vaccine without the need for quarantine is another small step in the right direction. At the very least, if tests are required, they should be the more readily available lateral flow tests or PCR tests carried out free of charge at NHS facilities, as has been done in France."
"We would also urge the government to urgently follow the lead of EU (European Union) counties to ensure that internationally agreed, coordinated protocols are in place so that processes when crossing borders to other countries are as smooth as possible, with no unnecessary queues, checks or costs.” Stewart Wingate added.
Meanwhile, there will be no changes in the rules for arrivals from red list countries, and travelers are expected to spend 10 days in a government-approved hotel at their own expense.
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