Amber list axed and testing loosened in rules shake-up

As widely expected, transport secretary Grant Shapps announced on Friday (17 September) that all amber and green countries would just be classed as "rest of the world" from 4 October as the traffic light system is dismantled.

The number of destinations on the red list has been also cut, with several key countries such as Turkey, Maldives and Pakistan, moving off the "high risk" list from 22 September at 4am.

Shapps said the moves were designed to “reduce costs, take advantage of higher levels of vaccination, and keep us all safe”.

He also confirmed that travel would become easier for fully vaccinated people returning from non-red destinations, as they will no longer have to take a pre-departure test before returning to England from 4 October.

"From later in October, we will be able to replace the day two PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow," added Shapps in a tweet. The government wants to have this change in place for when people return from their October half-term breaks.

"We’ll also be introducing a new simplified system for international travel from Monday 4 October, replacing the current approach with a single red list and simplified measures for the rest of the world - striking the right balance to manage the public health risk as number one priority."

Testing for unvaccinated passengers arriving from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day two and day eight PCR tests, with test to release still an option to reduce the 10-day self-isolation period.

The red list for "high risk" countries will still require all arrivals from these destinations to quarantine in a government-arranged hotel for 10 days, costing £2,285 per person, with tests on days two and eight and no test to release option.

These modifications to the travel system apply in England but are likely to be adopted by the other three UK nations, as has happened during the past few updates to the traffic light system.

The changes will boost the travel industry’s hopes for a bumper half-term holiday as restrictions are eased and simplified.

The traffic light system was set up earlier this year to facilitate the reopening of international travel in May, following the lockdown in the first few months of 2021 when overseas trips were effectively banned.