Four factors decide if holidays abroad can start – including spread of variants

England is still in national lockdown, and all non-essential is currently banned.

If all goes to plan, the ban will be lifted for UK holidays from April 12 – but not for international travel.

The decision on when to allow holidays abroad will be made by the Global Travel Taskforce on April 12.

On this date the Taskforce will meet with the Prime Minister and make the decision.

Brits are hoping to be allowed to travel abroad from May 17 – the earliest date international travel can return under the lockdown roadmap.

But in order for that to happen, four key factors need to be met.

Vaccine rollout in the UK – and abroad

One of the most important and deciding factors on whether international travel will be allowed is the rollout of the vaccine.

More than half of all adults in the UK have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

A total of 26.8million people were vaccinated between December 8 and March 19 – which is great news for the UK.

But other countries are much further behind the UK – and the slow uptake could hinder travel abroad.

Global coronavirus situation

Cases of coronavirus are generally falling across the UK after reaching a new peak in January.

But for holidays to be allowed to go ahead, the situation in the rest of the world needs to be monitored too.

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Some countries are currently in the middle of their third wave, including Italy, Germany and France.

The UK also has a travel ban list for countries where cases are soaring. It’s believed France may be added to this list.

There are also countries which have their own travel restrictions to take into account.

Spread and location of Covid variants

The different variants of Covid have thrown a spanner in the works several times.

France could be making its way onto the UK’s travel ban list due to the South African variant.

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Meanwhile, Portugal was initially added to the list because of the Brazilian variant.

The variant situation needs to be monitored for international travel to be allowed.

Effectiveness of vaccine on Covid variants

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There is also the fear that the vaccines we have won’t work on the Covid mutations.

Studies are currently being conducted to see whether the vaccines work on the new, more transmissible strains.

Recently, it was found that the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs work well against the Brazil variant.

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