Governments imposed various protocols such as quarantines, social distancing, and wearing masks in several countries to help in mitigating and addressing the spread of the virus among its citizens. Many countries also implemented lockdowns and placed restrictions on travel to and from cities.
Restrictions imposed to stop the spread of coronavirus has severely affected international travel. However, slowly, restrictions on travel are being eased to allow tourism to reopen and increase its economic activity. A traveller from another country must now take additional steps to prepare for travel to the UK.
According to UK transport secretary Grant Shapps, the UK Government will no longer require self-quarantine for fully vaccinated individuals. Individuals who are considered fully vaccinated are those who received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine after 14 days.
The new change in self-quarantine protocols applies to UK residents who were vaccinated before travelling, returning to England from the United States and various European countries, specifically travellers from the amber list. However, UK expatriates and non-residents who have been vaccinated in another country still need to self-quarantine. Children who are accompanied by fully vaccinated adults who are not currently included in Britain’s vaccination rollout are also exempt from quarantine protocol.
The UK introduced the “traffic light” system in May 2021, which travellers quickly adopted. The system holds travel requirements and classes other countries into amber, green, or red, depending on their COVID-19 risk. Most countries fall within the amber category. This classification is very similar to that of the USA and Europe. Travellers from these countries were required to undergo 3 COVID-19 tests along with ten days of home quarantine.
Today, 67% of the UK population is already fully vaccinated as of October 2021. With this, the UK government decided to allow international travel and ease some restrictions because of the positive results from the UK’s vaccination program and other vaccination programs worldwide.
This great news for the UK’s travel industry and holidaymakers this year was confirmed by the UK prime minister Boris Johnson. He announced that tourists and business travellers who had two vaccination doses could also travel to amber list countries without ten days self-isolation upon their return to the UK.
The change in quarantine rules for vaccinated travellers in the UK started on July 18, which coincided with the government plans to remove all remaining pandemic implementations like social distancing guidelines and to wear face masks in public places. The new measure can also help in facilitating holidays to popular tourist destinations such as Spain, Greece, and Italy, among many other countries.
Do vaccinated travellers still need to be tested?
Vaccinated travellers from amber arrivals are still subjected to current COVID-19 testing requirements like the rapid antigen test for travel. It is the same with those travellers that are entering the UK from green list destinations.
Travellers are required to get a pre-departure COVID-19 rapid antigen test 72 hours before departure. On the second day following their return, they need to get a PCR test. However, the eight-day test is no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals. This change in testing requirements applies to the following countries.
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Russia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- US
Along with this, travellers who are planning to return to England must do the following.
- Present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result
- Book a day 2 test after arriving in England
- Submit a passenger locator form within 48 hours before arriving in the UK. The form must be shown as this tells when you check in to travel or board a plane, train, or ferry in the UK.
As the world is slowly seeing the slowing down of the coronavirus cases, the UK government is now lifting the self-quarantine rules such as social distancing, wearing of masks, etc., for its fully vaccinated residents—14 days after receiving the final dose—who are travelling or returning to England from the US and various EU countries, and also those that are from the amber
list which was announced through UK transport secretary Grant Shapps.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed this good news. He hopes that this move will significantly help the UK bounce back and improve the country’s economy and travel industry, especially that the holidays are coming near.
Even when accompanied by fully inoculated adults, children who are currently not vaccinated are exempt from quarantine. However, despite being fully vaccinated, self-quarantine and rapid antigen test for travel is still a requirement for UK expatriates and non-residents.
When Will the Change Come into Effect?
The announcement’s effectivity date was set July 19, 2021, aiming to remove all the COVID-19 restrictions to help the government and travel industry’s recovery. The easing of the quarantine rules will also help usher holidays to popular destinations like Spain, Greece, Italy, and more.
What are the Present Rules for Vaccinated Travellers Entering the UK?
Last May 2021, a “traffic light” system was introduced to countries worldwide through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify which are still at high risk of COVID-19. Despite the effectiveness of the new rules last July 19, travellers coming from countries under the red category must still undergo three COVID-19 tests (that may be through a rapid antigen test or an RT-PCR test) and a 10-day quarantine.
The US and most of Europe are currently under the amber list, which means that travellers coming to and from the countries mentioned above will still undertake the exact COVID testing requirements for safety purposes.
Would Vaccinated Travellers Still Need to be Tested?
The answer is a resounding YES. Travellers who come from the amber countries and even those under the green list destination entering the UK are to undergo fit to fly COVID test requirements.
A coronavirus test is required 72 hours before a traveller’s departure. A PCR test is to be again taken on the second day following their arrival but no longer has to undergo another test on the eight-day.
As a fit-to-fly COVID test is a requirement nowadays, everyone must know a reliable testing provider that can help fulfill such travel requirements amid the pandemic. To learn more about the UK Lifts Quarantine Rules for Vaccinated Travellers, here is an infographic brought to you by Harley Medic International.
