All remaining Covid travel curbs to end on Friday – Shapps
Tom ParryAll remaining Covid travel measures, including testing for arrivals into the UK and the need to complete a passenger locator form, will end on Friday (18 March).
Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced on Monday (14 March) that all rules still in place for travellers would be stood down from 4am on Friday.
“These changes are possible due to our vaccine roll-out and mean greater freedom in time for Easter,” Shapps tweeted on Monday afternoon.
Passengers entering the UK will no longer need to take a Covid test or fill out a PLF, the Department for Transport confirmed, adding that the UK’s remaining hotel quarantine capacity will be shut down the end of March.
The change in testing rules removes the need for unvaccinated passengers to take a pre-departure test and a Day 2 post-arrival test.
However, the DfT said “contingency plans” will be put in place to manage any future variants of concern.
Although, the government said its “default approach” in future would be to minimise the impact on travel as far as possible – due to the “high personal, economic and international costs” restrictions can have.
Contingency measures will “only be implemented in extreme circumstances,” the DfT added.
Shapps said the UK was “leading the world” in its removal of Covid travel restrictions.
“I said we wouldn’t keep travel measures in place for any longer than necessary, which we’re delivering on today – providing more welcome news and greater freedom for travellers ahead of the Easter holidays.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the travel sector and partners around the world to keep international travel moving.”
Health secretary Sajid Javid added: “We will continue monitoring and tracking potential new variants, and keep a reserve of measures which can be rapidly deployed if needed to keep us safe.”
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Tom Parry
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