Boris Johnson has scrapped covid tests for vaccinated travellers arriving in the UK signalling a move towards a return to more normal summer holidays.
The Prime Minister said changes to testing rules for international travellers who are fully vaccinated will be made given that Britain is “moving through the Omicron wave”.Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a hospital in Milton Keynes, the PM said the decision would make the UK the most open economy and society in Europe.
He added: “And although we have to be cautious, we are now moving through the Omicron wave, and you can see the figures are starting to get better.” “So what we’re doing on travel, to show that this country is open for business, open for travellers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated, if they have been double vaccinated.”Changes to international travel rules by the UK government are usually mirrored by similar moves from the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments.The easing of restrictions has been a key demand of airlines and the holiday industry which is desperate to see a recovery in overseas travel this year.Until now, vaccinated travellers have had to take a day two test and unvaccinated travellers must quarantine for ten days and take a day two and day eight test.It comes after the chief executives of the UK’s largest airlines called on the government to end Covid-related travel restrictions in a bid to boost the ailing industry.The bosses pointed to evidence that the Omicron variant is in retreat, and argued that current measures have a “limited effect” in preventing the spread of covid-19. To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.