The Government has just announced a simplified system for international travel due to the success of our vaccine rollout this year. Headline changes:
- From 4 October, the current traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories.
- Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when travelling to England from 4 October.
- From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day two test with a cheaper lateral flow test. The Government wants to introduce this by the end of October, aiming to have it in place for when people return from half-term breaks.
- Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test - at no additional cost to the individual - which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.
- Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day two and day eight PCR tests. Test to release will remain an option to reduce self-isolation period.
- Following the success of a pilot with the US and Europe, England will welcome fully vaccinated travellers from a host of new countries from 4 October, who will be treated like returning fully vaccinated British citizens
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