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US And EU Travelers Can Visit The UK Without Quarantine From August 2021

US And EU Travelers Can Visit The UK Without Quarantine From August 2021The UK has been up and down with its COVID-19 rules and regulations for some time now, but is finally easing travel restrictions. Under its new plan, vaccinated travelers from the US and the European Union countries on the amber list will be able to travel to England, Wales and Scotland without quarantine.

Quarantine dropped for fully vaxxed travelers from amber-list countries

Up until recently, the UK required a 10-day quarantine for travelers, with the only exception being UK residents, fully vaccinated with an NHS-administered vaccine. However, as from August 2, most of the UK will no longer require fully vaccinated travelers to undergo quarantine. The travelers must have been fully vaxxed with US or EU-approved vaccines, or have recovered from the virus.

Which countries are on the amber list?

Most countries are categorized on the amber list under the UK’s traffic light system. These include the popular destinations like Italy, Spain, Greece, mainland Portugal, and the US. The only exception is France, a country on the amber list, but where travelers are still required to quarantine for 10 days due to concern over the spread of the Beta variant in that country.

Some requirements still stand

While the quarantine requirement is being dropped in most cases, there are some other requirements before planning a trip to the UK. According to transport secretary Grant Shapps, It will still be necessary to undergo a pre-travel test, plus travelers from amber countries must take another test on the second day of arrival in the UK. It will also be necessary for children to take a PCR test on the second day of their trip.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers will still be required to quarantine for 10 days, even when arriving from an amber list country.

Those traveling from green-list countries will find no changes. They will still be required to take a PCR test before and after travel but will not need to quarantine. Meanwhile, visitors from red-list, or high-risk, countries will continue to be required to quarantine at an approved hotel at their own expense. Readers can see the full list of requirements here.

What is open in England?

On July 19 (“Freedom Day”), England reopened the nation by dropping almost all its domestic COVID-19 rules. This is despite the fact that the Delta variant is still causing an ongoing surge in cases throughout the UK.

According to Reuters, the British Medical Association (BMA) did call for the continued use of face masks, but the UK government has removed its mask mandate, as well as social distancing guidelines. Hospitality and entertainment sectors have fully reopened with no restrictions for the first time since March 2020. Music events and festivals have returned and sporting events are permitted at full capacity, more or less returning the country to pre-pandemic levels.

Mask requirements on public transport

However, visitors to London should note that masks are still mandatory on public transport, including buses, trams, the Tube, DLR, Overground and TfL Rail. Passengers should also wear masks in transport stations for the duration of their journey.

London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, sent a tweet, writing, “there is overwhelming evidence that face masks reduce the transmission of COVID. Face masks will stay compulsory on services—to protect vulnerable Londoners and give everyone the confidence to travel.”

COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland

Scottish officials have downgraded their COVID-19 restrictions to their lowest level, but the rules over the wearing of face masks will remain in place for “some time.” The country’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has also urged citizens to continue to keep to the limits on social gatherings, physically distance, ventilate rooms and wash hands.

Wales, like England, has dropped the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions but masks will continue to be required on public transport and in social care and health settings. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, masks are still required in public, along with social distancing in most public settings.

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