UK's Traffic Light Travel System Scrapped As Rules Simplified

The UK's traffic light Covid-19 travel rules have been scrapped as of today (Monday 4 October).

The green, amber and red lists are no more, with locations now categorised as either on the red list or not.

It means the previous green and amber lists have essentially been merged.

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Fully vaccinated residents - and unvaccinated under 18s - travelling from these countries can now enter the UK without needing to complete a pre-departure lateral flow test, take a day-eight post-arrival PCR test costing around £65, or self-isolate at home.

However, they are still required to buy and complete a PCR test two days after arrival back in the UK. Eligible fully vaccinated people travelling to England will be able to use a cheaper lateral flow test instead from later in October, but a specific date has not yet been set.

People who are not fully vaccinated are required to take pre-departure test and a PCR test on days two and eight after they return, and must self-isolate for 10 days at home.

The number of countries on the red list is also expected to be slashed to nine from 54 later in the week, with destinations such as Brazil, Mexico and South Africa likely to be opened up to quarantine-free travel.

People arriving from a red list destination will still be required to spend 11 nights at a quarantine hotel costing £2,285 for solo travellers.

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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "We are accelerating towards a future where travel continues to reopen safely and remains open for good, and today's rule changes are good news for families, businesses and the travel sector.

"Our priority remains to protect public health but, with more than eight in 10 people now fully vaccinated, we are able to take these steps to lower the cost of testing and help the sector to continue in its recovery."

It is hoped the changes will come as a boost to the travel sector, which has been badly hit by travel restrictions - obviously.

Tim Alderslade - chief executive of Airlines UK, a trade body representing UK carriers - said: "Things are moving in the right direction and the removal of these restrictions will make it easier and cheaper for people to travel.

"We've seen a good response to the announcement in terms of bookings and, given current trends, we would hope to see more countries come off the red list and further mutual recognition of vaccine status.

"There is still much to do though. This is not job done, and ministers need to keep in mind that we remain an outlier on arrivals testing for vaccinated passengers.

"In the short-term the removal of PCR testing by the October half-term week is critical, and we look forward to clarity on the start date for this as soon as possible."

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus, travel, Covid-19

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey