The government has confirmed proposed changes to travel restrictions as the country continues to ease out of lockdown, saying double-vaccinated Brits will no longer need to self-isolate upon returning from amber list countries from Monday 19 July.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps updated MPs in the House of Commons today.
He said: "The change I'm announcing today will prioritise those vaccinated in the United Kingdom.
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"However, as I made clear last week, we want to welcome international visitors back to the UK, and are working to extend our approach to vaccinated passengers from important markets and holiday destinations later this summer, such as the United States and the EU."
Shapps added: "Children under 18 returning from amber list countries will not have to isolate on their return, nor take a day eight test.
"Children between the ages of five and 10 will only need to take a day two test, and as before children four and under will be exempt from all testing and isolation requirements."
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At the moment, amber list arrivals must quarantine for 10 days and take PCR tests, while those coming from red list countries are required to pay for hotel quarantine for 10 days.
The announcement follows comments made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week, who said during a Downing Street press briefing: "We will maintain our tough border controls including the red list, and recognising the protection afforded by two doses of vaccine, we will work with the travel industry towards removing the need for fully vaccinated arrivals to isolate on return from an amber country."
Currently, anyone entering the UK from an amber list country has to self-isolate for up to 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.
They also have to take PCR tests on days two and eight, before they are allowed to exit quarantine on day 10 - depending, of course, on negative results from both.
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People can also take an additional test on the fifth day, and be permitted to leave quarantine early if it is negative.
More than 100 countries are on the amber list, including holiday hotspots such as Spain, Greece and the United States.
But more than 50 countries are also on the red list - the strictest - which requires arrivals to pay to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days.
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Earlier this week, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid also announced that those who had received both of their vaccination doses would also no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with the virus.
He told Parliament: "Asking people with Covid-19 and their close contacts to self-isolate has played a critical role in helping us get this virus under control, and I'm so grateful to the millions of people across the UK who have made sacrifices to keep the virus at bay.
"Thanks to the UK's phenomenal vaccine programme and the huge wall of defence, we can safely take steps to reduce self-isolation for people who are fully vaccinated, and those aged under 18, and instead advise people to take a PCR test. Positive cases will still need to self-isolate.
"Step-by-step, and jab-by-jab, we're replacing the temporary protection of the restrictions, with the long-term protection of a vaccine."
Featured Image Credit: PA