The British government announced Monday that it is scrapping coronavirus travel testing requirements for the vaccinated, news hailed by the travel industry as a big step back to normality.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “to show that this country is open for business, open for travelers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated if they have been double vaccinated.”
British Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said Monday that people who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to take a coronavirus test within two days of entering the country, beginning on February 11.
“Of course, we know that covid can spring surprises,” Shapps said. “But everybody now should feel confident about booking holidays and business trips and visits to family and friends abroad.”
The country is also paring down testing requirements for travelers who are not fully vaccinated, scrapping a rule mandating that they take a test on the eighth day after arrival. However, they will still need to take a test before departing and a PCR test on or before their second day in England. Regardless of vaccination status, all arrivals will need to complete a passenger locator form, which Shapps said will be simplified, “making it quicker and easier to complete.”
Under the new rule, children under the age of 18 traveling to the United Kingdom will not face any tests at the border.
Tourism and travel firms that have been hammered by pandemic restrictions welcomed the move, which makes the UK one of the most open countries in the world for international travel.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “to show that this country is open for business, open for travelers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated if they have been double vaccinated.”
British Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said Monday that people who are fully vaccinated will no longer have to take a coronavirus test within two days of entering the country, beginning on February 11.
“Of course, we know that covid can spring surprises,” Shapps said. “But everybody now should feel confident about booking holidays and business trips and visits to family and friends abroad.”
The country is also paring down testing requirements for travelers who are not fully vaccinated, scrapping a rule mandating that they take a test on the eighth day after arrival. However, they will still need to take a test before departing and a PCR test on or before their second day in England. Regardless of vaccination status, all arrivals will need to complete a passenger locator form, which Shapps said will be simplified, “making it quicker and easier to complete.”
Under the new rule, children under the age of 18 traveling to the United Kingdom will not face any tests at the border.
Tourism and travel firms that have been hammered by pandemic restrictions welcomed the move, which makes the UK one of the most open countries in the world for international travel.
