Big Change To Testing After Holiday Could Come In As Early As Monday

Ministers are looking to bring in a big change as reports suggest that the Covid traveller testing system might get abolished as early as Monday (24 Jan).

Fully vaccinated Brits returning to the UK might not need to take a test and a discussion will be had on ditching the lateral flow tests for double-jabbed travellers, reports Daily Mail.

Also the passenger locater form that needs to be completed online within 48 hours of arriving in Britain could be simplified and the 'fully vaccinated' status of an individual will reportedly be up for debate. Whether the term refers to having two or three jabs is required, is yet to be confirmed.

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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is allegedly pushing for the removal of all testing for those who are fully vaccinated.

Also, if you're unvaccinated you might still need to conduct multiple tests and self-isolation.

A study by analytics firm Edge Health and Oxera found that the current restriction rules only delay the peak of a new strain by two and eight days.

By removing this restriction, the travel industry might get a well needed boost.

Airlines UK boss Tim Alderslade said: "Testing restrictions for the fully vaccinated make no sense at all given the delay in governments being able to detect and act on the arrival of a new variant, as we saw with Omicron.

"This is something the World Health Organisation themselves have admitted. 

"Not only do they fail to suppress the international spread of variants, they place a disproportionate burden on the travel sector and those that rely on the connectivity that aviation provides.

"We need to be smarter in how we deal with future variants rather than resorting to blanket but wholly ineffective measures. 

"Otherwise, we will never be able to truly say that we are 'living with Covid'".

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Ben Bradshaw, a member of the Commons transport committee echoed similar thoughts.

He said: "It’s high time the Government scrapped all testing requirements for vaccinated travellers.

"These have had minimal or zero effect in controlling the virus but have done untold damage to our travel industry and caused huge problems for the public.

"There is also little point in retaining the passenger locator form – a quick check of vaccine status at departure should suffice."

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus

Anish Vij

Anish is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2024 finalist. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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