UK to remove restrictions for eligible vaccinated arrivals

ALL TESTING measures for eligible fully vaccinated travellers arriving in Britain will be scrapped from next month, as the UK government goes one step further to reopen the Covidbattered travel sector.

From 4am on February 11, all testing requirements will be removed for eligible fully vaccinated arrivals, with only a Passenger Locator Form now required, according to a statement released by the British government on Monday.

Arrivals not recognised as fully vaccinated will need to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after they arrive in the country, reports the Xinhua news agency.

“This final step in our stable and safe full return to international travel is a major boost for UK tourism, setting Britain free ahead of the crucial

half-term and spring holiday season,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in the statement.

The country is also set to recognise vaccine certificates from 16 more countries, including China and Mexico, bringing the recognition total to more than 180 nations and territories worldwide.

Official figures revealed that Britain added 88 447 Covid-19 cases in the latest 24 hours, bringing the total caseload to 16063010, and a further 56 additional fatalities, taking the national death toll to 154430.

More than 90% of people aged 12 and above in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine, over 83% are fully inoculated, and some 64% have received booster jabs.

A PASSENGER aircraft descends to land at Heathrow Airport as Britain announces the scrapping of Covid-19 travel testing rules for eligible arrivals as from next month. | Reuters