UNITED KINGDOM: In the latest relaxation of Covid travel and quarantine rules, 47 countries are taken off U.K.’s “red list”.
Under the latest changes, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico come off the red list, only Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Haiti and the Dominican Republic remain on the U.K.’s red list – meaning that travellers from these places arriving in the U.K. must still stay in hotel quarantine for 11 nights at a cost of £2,285 for one adult.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the changes begin on Monday and “mark the next step” in opening travel.
Announcing the changes, with effect 4 am on October 11, Shapps said: “The measures announced today mark the next step as we continue to open up travel and provide stability for passengers and industry while remaining on track to keep travel open for good.”
Shapps announced that the government would recognise vaccines for arrivals from a further 37 countries and territories, including Brazil, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey.
The decision means fully vaccinated people entering England from these locations will be exempt from quarantine, the pre-departure test and the day-eight post-arrival test.
Passengers will be able to send a picture of their lateral flow test as a minimum requirement to verify test result accuracy and keep prices down when day two tests switch to lateral flow later this month, followed by a free PCR test if positive.
Airlines and the travel industry praised a “much-improved system” but called on ministers to implement changes to testing as soon as possible and consider scrapping tests for passengers arriving from low-risk countries.
Also Read: U.K. Travel Rules Ease as Amber List Scrapped
Pandemic travel rules in the U.K. have recently been simplified, with the amber list cut, and advice against holidays changed for 32 countries.
But consumer group Which? warned the changes only reflect requirements for arriving back in the U.K.
“Travellers should be aware that they may still face restrictions on entry to many destinations, especially those under 18 who are not yet vaccinated,” it said.
