Is there hope for holidays after all? Boris Johnson hints that daily Covid tests could end the need for travellers to quarantine after arriving back from abroad
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted amber list returnees could have rapid tests
- It mirrors a plan to spare vaccinated people quarantine after contact with Covid
- Ditching quarantine requirements would open amber countries France and Italy
Boris Johnson has boosted hopes that family holidays could be back on the cards by August after suggesting daily testing could be an alternative to self-isolation.
The Prime Minister hinted that ministers were examining plans to offer rapid daily tests to fully jabbed travellers returning from amber list countries as an alternative to quarantining at home.
It mirrors a plan to spare fully vaccinated people from having to quarantine if they come into contact with someone later diagnosed with Covid – provided they take daily tests.
Boris Johnson has boosted hopes that family holidays could be back on the cards by August after suggesting daily testing could be an alternative to self-isolation
Speaking during a lab visit in Hertfordshire yesterday, Mr Johnson suggested this idea could be extended to those returning from holiday, saying: ‘It’s very important we look at the opportunities for all of us over the coming months from two jabs... [we are] one of the most vaccinated countries in the world now.
‘If you look today, everyone over 50 should have been offered their second jab... so there’s a great deal of potential there.
‘But when it comes to travel we’ll certainly be looking at that [the daily testing plan].’
It is thought that easier rules for fully vaccinated travellers could also extend to children – and this is despite them not being jabbed.
However, in his interview yesterday, Mr Johnson stressed the challenges the industry will face and added: ‘This is going to be, whatever happens, a difficult year for travel.’
As it stands, all arrivals from amber countries must quarantine at home for ten days whether they have been vaccinated or not.
Speaking during a lab visit in Hertfordshire yesterday, Mr Johnson hinted that ministers were examining plans to offer rapid daily tests to fully jabbed travellers returning from amber list countries as an alternative to quarantining at home
Any move to ditch or ease quarantine rules in favour of daily testing would open up amber destinations for family holidays, including to Spain, Greece, France and Italy (pictured)
Apart from Gibraltar, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, the whole of Europe is currently on the amber list. They can shorten the quarantine with a negative PCR test halfway through – but travellers would still need to isolate for five days which is enough to deter many from travelling.
Ministers are reviewing the current traffic light system – as well as the testing and quarantine rules – during three ‘checkpoints’ over the year.
The first is on Monday next week, followed by July 31 and October 1. Simultaneously, the list of which countries are on the red, amber and green lists is reviewed every three weeks.
As part of this week’s ‘checkpoint’ review, ministers will consider whether to ditch or ease quarantine rules for vaccinated travellers arriving from amber countries.
However, they are not expected to activate the changes until late July at the earliest.
Any move to ditch or ease quarantine rules in favour of daily testing would open up amber destinations for family holidays, including to Spain, Greece, France and Portugal – all of which are on the amber list.
It is understood the Department for Transport is also pushing for children to be included in any exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers despite them not having been jabbed.
In another positive sign, a Government source yesterday also said Health Secretary Matt Hancock is ‘open’ to the move.
During previous cabinet meetings to discuss the traffic light system, Mr Hancock is said to have put up the strongest resistance to relaxing measures.
However, families may still be subject to costly and onerous testing requirements even if quarantine measures are dropped for vaccinated people.
Under the traffic light rules, arrivals from green countries are the only ones which enjoy quarantine-free travel. But there are only 11 destinations on the green list and travellers must take two tests, one pre-departure and another post-arrival.
Amber arrivals must quarantine at home for ten days and take a total of three tests while red country travellers must quarantine in hotels for eleven nights at their own expense.
The rules are the same for jabbed and unvaccinated people.
The travel industry has long been calling for restrictions to be relaxed for vaccinated individuals due to scientific studies showing they are less likely to transmit the virus.
Amber arrivals must quarantine at home for ten days and take a total of three tests while red country travellers must quarantine in hotels for eleven nights at their own expense
