Travellers from France will STILL have to isolate despite new rules to skip isolation from the EU
DOUBLE jabbed travellers will still have to self-isolate when coming from France despite new rules for the rest of the EU.
Tourists from France will have to isolate for ten days on arrival as it is still on the ‘amber plus list’ despite a relaxation of quarantine rules people coming from the USA and the rest of the EU.
Full vaccinated will be allowed to skip quarantine if they’ve been double jabbed with jabbed recognised in the UK from August 2.
Boris Johnson signed off the plan to open up international travel at a Covid-O meeting today.
In a statement, Mr Shapps added the move would help reunite families across both continents.
But the new rules will not apply to France, which remains on the ‘amber plus’ list – although there are hopes it will return ‘amber’ next week.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We’ve taken great strides on our journey to reopen international travel and today is another important step forward.
“Whether you are a family reuniting for the first time since the start of the pandemic or a business benefiting from increased trade – this is progress we can all enjoy.
“We will of course continue to be guided by the latest scientific data but thanks to our world-leading domestic vaccination programme, we’re able to look to the future and start to rebuild key transatlantic routes with the US while further cementing ties with our European neighbours.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid added: “Our vaccination programme is building a wall of defence against this virus so we can safely enjoy our freedoms again, with seven in ten adults in the UK now double jabbed.
“By reopening quarantine-free travel for travellers who have been fully vaccinated in European countries and the USA, we’re taking another step on the road to normality which will reunite friends and families and give UK businesses a boost.”
Earlier this week Whitehall sources said they were hopeful of reopening travel to France in the coming weeks, as cases of the feared Beta variant drop.
“Like we’ve seen here, Delta is so transmissible we are pretty sure it will outcompete the Beta variant.”
Whitehall source
The source said: “Like we’ve seen here, Delta is so transmissible we are pretty sure it will outcompete the Beta variant.
“There is still a couple of weeks to go though and that needs to be reflected in the data.”
It means that Brits who are double-jabbed abroad will be able to head home quarantine free next week as ministers now recognise foreign vaccines.
It paves the way for hundreds of thousands of expats to come home without having to isolate for ten days.
Jabs administered in the EU and USA will be recognised – as long as they are by the same doses handed the green-light in the UK.
Currently only those who have been jabbed by the NHS in the UK are eligible for a “Covid pass”, allowing them the 10 day self-isolation period, when coming from an amber-list country.
It comes as Covid cases have now been falling for a seventh day in a row.
Boris Johnson is said to have become increasingly concerned the EU is now further ahead than the UK on enabling international travel and believes the UK risks “squandering its vaccine bonus”.
The UK economy is losing £639 million a day because of the squeeze on foreign tourists, research has shown.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
Today’s decision follows a trial by Heathrow airport, BA and Virgin to address concerns over the complexities of different US states’ paper and digital certificates.
In a bid to avoid long queues at passport control, airlines will be responsible for checking each traveller’s vaccine status.
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It was found the practical difficulties of verifying the vaccination status of travellers was overcome in 99 per cent of cases.
The new measures for EU and US travellers will initially only apply to England though the devolved regions are set to follow suit.