More detail on the overhaul of England’s Covid-19 rules governing international travel, which came into force at 4am on Monday, replacing the traffic-light system, from my colleague, Nazia Parveen.
A single red list of countries remains, with the previous green and amber countries now classified as the “rest of the world†or “non-red listâ€. There have also been changes to the testing requirements when returning from a non-red-list country, if fully vaccinated.
There is no longer be a requirement for fully vaccinated travellers to take a test in the three days before their return from a non-red-list country.
Also, from the end of October, they will no longer be required to take a PCR test on day two of their arrival in England or Scotland – instead they will need to take a lateral flow test. If the lateral flow test is positive, they will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test at no additional cost.
For those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, there are currently no changes to the testing or quarantine requirements. This means if they arrive in the UK from any non-red-list country, they will still need to take a pre-departure test, a PCR test on day two and day eight, and quarantine at home for 10 days. If they are arriving in England, they still have the option to use the test-to-release scheme on day five.
Requirements for arrivals in the UK from red-list countries remain the same: a pre-departure test and the pre-booking of a mandatory 11-night quarantine hotel package, which will include two PCR tests, taken on day two and day eight, whatever your vaccination status.
All travellers, regardless of their vaccination status and the country they are travelling from, will also still need to complete a passenger locator form any time in the 48 hours before they arrive in the UK.
More changes to travel rules are expected to be announced on Thursday.