An AAP report from the UK says that the from 4.00am on Monday 2 August, the UK is going to allow EU and US travellers who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus to enter the UK without the need to quarantine, with the change announced by MP and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Shapps said, “We’re helping reunite people living in the US and Europe with their family and friends in the UK” and with the initial ruling appearing to apply to England only, the Scottish Government has announced the rule change will also apply to fully vaccinated EU and US visitors to Scotland from Monday, with the Welsh Government saying that while it “regrets” the move to remove quarantine requirements for EU and US visitors to England, it would be “ineffective” to have different rules for Wales.
In the meantime, Northern Ireland has said Ministers will consider their position on the change at Thursday’s meeting of the power sharing executive, although Norther Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann will propose that the region also adopts the rule change from Monday.
Only travellers who have received two doses of a vaccine in the UK are currently permitted to enter the UK from an amber country, such as the US and most of the EU, without self-isolating for 10 days, except those returning from France, but ministers have decided to extend the exemption in England to those vaccinated in the US and the EU.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said, “Our vaccination programme is building a wall of defence against this virus so we can safely enjoy our freedoms again, with seven in 10 adults in the UK now double jabbed”, adding, “By reopening quarantine-free travel for travellers who have been fully vaccinated in European countries and the USA, we’re taking another step on the road to normality which will reunite friends and families and give UK businesses a boost.”
Travellers will though be required to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before the second day after their arrival.
In addition, Shapps has also announced that international cruises will be permitted to restart from ports in England from Monday 2 August, [see another article today in Global Travel Media] with passengers arriving at UK ports who have been fully vaccinated in the US and the EU, also not having to quarantine, but the situation re international cruises starting from ports in other UK countries is not yet known, but it is anticipated they will follow suit.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Special Correspondent, Travel and Tourism, Global Travel Media
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