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The British government said it plans to simplify international travel rules during the coronavirus pandemic and announce it later on Friday.
Transport Secretary Grant Sharps said on Twitter that he will “work out measures to simplify international travel later today to reduce costs, take advantage of higher levels of vaccinations, and ensure the safety of all of us.”
The government is under pressure to cancel its “traffic light” system, which classifies countries as red, amber or green-high, medium or low risk of coronavirus. These categories have been criticized as unfair and confusing, and the sudden change in the status of the country has caused headaches for thousands of travelers.
Currently, people from “red list” countries must spend 10 days in a government-approved quarantine hotel. Unvaccinated travellers from countries on the Amber List must self-isolate at home for 10 days, while fully vaccinated travellers need to be tested for coronavirus before and after arriving in the UK.
The government is likely to relax regulations requiring passengers to undergo highly sensitive and expensive PCR testing two days after arrival. They can switch to a cheaper but less sensitive lateral flow test.
Airlines and tourism companies complain that the UK’s complex and expensive requirements keep people away and hinder recovery from the pandemic. Heathrow Airport said this week that it has fallen from the busiest airport in Europe in 2019 to the 10th busiest airport now, lagging behind competitors in cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt.
Any changes will apply to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed their own policies.
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