EU slammed by MEP for ‘disorderly’ actions on travel
The decision will be based on the Government’s review of the current traffic light system which is expected to end this week. The review will examine whether fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and the US will be able to bypass quarantine in the UK.
Currently, only those who have been inoculated by the NHS are eligible for a “Covid pass” to show upon return that would allow them to skip the self-isolation period of up to 10 days.
Last week it was confirmed by Vaccines Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, that those who had been jabbed abroad but were still registered with a GP in Britain would be able to have those doses recognised.
This comes after Heathrow Airport, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic claimed a 10-day pilot scheme demonstrated the UK can safely exempt fully vaccinated travellers from self-isolation.
BA chief executive Sean Doyle said the trial provides the “evidence the Government needs” to allow fully vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries to be exempt from quarantine.
Boris Johnson set to drop quarantine rules for fully vaccinated EU and US travellers (Image: Getty)
Travellers could be exempt from quarantine (Image: Getty)
He said: “The UK needs to safely reopen its borders as soon as possible to ensure loved ones can reunite, businesses can thrive and global Britain is able to take advantage of the UK’s world-leading vaccination programme.”
Shai Weiss, the chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, warned the UK’s “overly cautious approach” towards international travel will harm the country’s economic recovery.
He said the trial shows airlines would ensure an easing of the amber rules is “implemented smoothly at pace”.
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye added: “The vaccine has been a miracle of science, and these trials have shown that we can allow fully vaccinated passengers from the EU and US to visit the UK without quarantine.
READ MORE: EU fury: Biden snubs desperate European pleas to lift travel ban
Boris Johnson could ease quarantine restrictions (Image: Getty)
“There is now no reason to delay with rolling out the solution from July 31.”
According to the Financial Times, Government ministers said it would be “easier” to have more relaxed rules for EU travellers because of digital health passes being handed out.
For US travellers it would be more difficult as “their system is largely paper-based and is operated by 50 states”.
But ministers were said to be considering it as a “gesture of goodwill”.
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Coronavirus cases across the world (Image: Express)
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said easing travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated EU and US arrivals is “reckless”.
Speaking to Kay Burley, she said: “I think at the moment everybody wants to go on holiday and go back to normal as quickly as possible but this is reckless.
“We know the Delta variant came into this country and delayed some of the easing of restrictions and caused infections here.
“We need to make sure we have proper data-driven analysis and that we look at international passports for vaccines.
Angela Rayner said the move was “reckless” (Image: Getty)
“We also know that people who have had the vaccine of course can still get the virus.
“So a testing regime is very important and crucial as well.
“So I am very concerned about the Government’s announcement by the press this morning.”
Ms Rayner continued: “We know that the vaccine passport isn’t an internationally recognised one.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki (Image: Getty)
“We don’t know the circumstances of how that is going to be administrated and of course, people can still carry mutations and different levels of the virus therefore, we believe the Government hasn’t done enough to safely guard our borders.
“And we haven’t got an internationally recognised vaccine passport which the Government said they are working towards
“So it does feel reckless especially when we saw the Delta variant come into the country.”
The White House confirmed it would maintain its travel ban on the UK and countries in the EU Schengen nations.
Travel industry urges Boris to ease quarantine restrictions (Image: Getty)
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said: “Given where we are today… with the Delta variant, we will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point.
“Driven by the Delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated and appear likely continue to increase in the weeks ahead.”
The US is also keeping its borders shut to Canada and Mexico until at least August 21.
This comes after the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the Delta variant now accounts for 80 percent of all US cases.
Environment Secretary George Eustice (Image: Getty)
Earlier this month, the Government put France on an “amber-plus” list amid concerns about the growing number of cases of the Beta variant, first discovered in South Africa.
But France is likely to be removed from the amber-plus list as Government officials seemed to admit the Beta variant threat was now contained.
Environment Secretary George Eustice told LBC: “There was a reason at the time that the advice was we should put France on that amber (plus) list, it was concern about the Beta variant and the fact that the vaccine might be slightly less effective against that.
“But as those rates come down obviously the evidence will change and it can be reviewed and we will want to be putting countries like France back onto the amber list in the normal way.”
