Travel: Double jab rules will be 'boost for economy' says expert

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Brits who have had both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine may be able to enjoy a holiday abroad as early as this summer, without the hassle of having to quarantine upon landing in the UK, as the Government and travel industry are expected to work hand-in-hand in the coming days to resolve the issue. In addition, some countries that have the UK on their own amber list could enable British citizens to travel to the country without the need to isolate first.

Countries around the world are continually reviewing travel restrictions and some countries, particularly those in Europe, could be prime spots for holidaymakers here.

Many were hoping Prime Minister Boris Johnson would scrap the requirement for people who have been double-jabbed at his Monday press conference.

However, Mr Johnson kept the quarantine rule in place for people entering the UK from amber destinations despite confirming a drop in social restrictions on July 19, in what has been dubbed ‘Freedom Day’.

In a glimmer of good news for holidaymakers, the Prime Minister said the Government will work with the travel industry to lift this requirement.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to announce more details on the matter this week.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: “We will maintain our tough border controls, including the red list and recognising the protection afforded by two doses of vaccine.

“We will work with the travel industry for removing the need for fully vaccinated arrivals to isolate on return from any amber country and the Transport Secretary will provide a further update later this week.”

The Government says it is trying to strike a balance between moving the country out of restrictions while keeping a lid on infections and hospitalisations.

Mr Shapps will give an update on plans to remove the need for vaccinated Individuals arriving from amber list countries to isolate in due course.

At Monday’s press conference, Mr Johnson acknowledged the pandemic is “far from over” with cases rising “fairly rapidly”.

The Prime Minister said: “There could be 50,000 cases detected per day by July 19.

“We are seeing rising hospital admissions and we must reconcile ourselves, sadly, to more deaths from Covid.

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“In these circumstances we must take a careful and a balanced decision.

“There is only one reason why we contemplate going ahead to Step Four in circumstances where we would normally be locking down further, and that’s because of the continuing effectiveness of the vaccine rollout.”

Mr Johnson added: “We have to balance the risks – the risks of the disease which the vaccines have reduced but very far from eliminated, and the risks of continuing with legally-enforced restrictions that inevitably take their toll on people lives and livelihoods, on people’s health and mental health.

“We must be honest with ourselves that if we can’t reopen society in the next few weeks, when we will be helped by the arrival of summer and the school holidays, then we must ask ourselves: when will we be able to return to normal?”

Amber list countries

Countries on the amber list could mean Brits can travel to them without needing to quarantine on return.

Amber list popular travel destinations include:

Austria
The Bahamas
Belgium
Canada
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Fiji
Finland
France
Germany
Greece and islands
Italy
Jamaica
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
Poland
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
USA

A full list of counties on the amber list can be found here.

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