Long-haul back on the map after red-list overhaul
TRAVEL to dozens of longhaul destinations such as Mexico and South Africa opens up from UK airports today.
The travel “red list” will be slashed from 54 countries to just seven from 4am in a boost to families hoping to take half-term breaks abroad.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the longawaited update to the system last week – with South Africa and Thailand also removed from the list.
Indonesia has also been taken off the red list, opening up tourist destination islands such as Bali. It means people returning from those countries will no longer have to isolate in a hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £2285.
And those countries’ residents and nationals will finally be allowed to visit the UK again after months of a total ban.
The only seven countries that now remain on the red list are Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela.
There are two sets of rules for people coming from the rest of the world to the UK depending on their vaccination status.
Children and fully vaccinated adults arriving from the rest of the world now only have to take one test – a Day 2 PCR test after landing. There’s no need to isolate, and no need to take a “predeparture” test before flying.
The Day 2 test will also be replaced with a cheaper lateral flow later this month, of which passengers will simply be asked to send a photo to the authorities.
But the plan to replace Day 2 PCR Covid tests with cheaper lateral flow tests for the fully jabbed is causing rifts in the Cabinet and has yet to be given a launch date.