Number of countries on travel red list slashed to seven with 47 destinations set to be removed
South Africa, Thailand and the Seychelles are among 47 countries being taken off England and Wales’ travel red list as it is slashed to just seven.
As of 4am on Monday, 47 countries will be removed from the red list so travellers from those nations will no longer have to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £2,285.
The only countries remaining on the red list are Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
New travel rules ‘a step forward’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also added 37 countries to the list of locations with approved vaccine programmes, so travellers from those non-red list countries no longer have to quarantine for 10 days on arrival from Monday, take a pre-departure test or the day eight post-arrival test.
The destinations include India, Turkey, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, Pakistan, Kenya and Ghana.
Also included is the United Nations COVID-19 vaccination programme, under which staff at UN duty stations who cannot get World Health Organisation approved vaccines will be provided with them.
Mr Shapps also said later this month, fully vaccinated travellers from approved countries will be able to take a lateral flow test on day two after arriving, instead of a pricey PCR test, and they will be able to send a picture of their test to verify the result.
If they test positive then they will be given a free PCR test to confirm.
Passengers who are fully vaccinated in countries not on the approved list will still have to take a pre-departure test, a day two and eight test and complete 10 days self-isolation, with the option of test to release on day five.
Mr Shapps said: “With half-term and winter sun around the corner, we’re making it easier for families and loved ones to reunite, by significantly cutting the number of destinations on the red list, thanks in part to the increased vaccination efforts around the globe.
“Restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding our economy and levelling up this country. With less restrictions and more people travelling, we can all continue to move safely forward together along our pathway to recovery.”
The announcement was made days after the traffic light system was scrapped in favour of one red list.
Yesterday, the Foreign Office lifted advice against all but essential travel to 32 countries based purely on their COVID situation, with more to have that advice lifted soon. Many insurers use that advice as a point to not provide travel insurance so lifting it means travellers will now be covered if going to those nations.
Fully vaccinated travellers arriving from non-red list countries no longer need to take a pre-departure test before arriving in England.
Unvaccinated travellers coming from non-red list countries, and those who are vaccinated but coming from unapproved countries, still need to take a pre-departure test for travelling to England, quarantine at home for 10 days and take a day two PCR test.
People arriving from the few remaining red list countries will still need to take pre-departure tests, go into hotel quarantine and take PCR tests on day two and eight.