Double-jabbed Brits have been given the official go-ahead to holiday without quarantine in amber list countries this morning.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced the news in parliament, revealing July 19 as the moment the new policy kicks in.
This means doors will once again be open for Brits to come on holiday to Portugal.
Indeed, Portugal pre-empted this decision on June 28 announcing Brits entering national territory could only do so without quarantine if they were double-jabbed (click here). (Travellers can either use an official letter from the NHS or the NHS Covid app.)
Children under the age of 12 travelling with fully-vaccinated parents are “dispensed with the realisation of quarantine”, SEF confirmed, and will not have to present a negative Covid test.
Children aged 12 and over (up to the age of 18) will still have to present a negative test (either PCR or antigen) taken the requisite number of hours before flying.
The British rules nonetheless insist that adult travellers take a Covid test before returning home, and then a second test on the second day of returning.
In other words, there are still substantial ‘extra’ expenses involved for all those opting for a foreign holiday.
The news comes as the UK is preparing to ‘open up’ totally from its long period living with Covid-led restrictions.
For the time being, Britain has over 140 countries on its amber list. These include all the countries of Europe, though there are indications that a handful of European destinations may be moved to the travel ‘green list’ at the UK’s next travel review.
UK radio this morning said “prices for flights to Spain, France and Italy are expected to skyrocket” following Grant Shapps announcement.
Britain’s prime minister Boris Johnson has meantime answered criticism that his government might be eschewing Covid-led restrictions ‘too soon’, saying: “… if we can’t reopen our society in the next few weeks when we will be helped by the arrival of summer and by the school holidays, then we must ask ourselves when will we be able to return to normal?”
