Ministers are set to ditch the Covid testing system for fully vaccinated holidaymakers within days.
This move will provide a boost to the travel industry, which has been hard hit since the government scrapped costly pre-return PCR swabs and expensive post-arrival PCR swabs.
It will save a family of four around £80 to £100 on testing costs. The current situation is that double-jabbed Britons returning to the UK must undergo a rapid lateral flow test no later than day 2. They must also take an additional confirmatory PCR test if they are positive.
In just days, ministers will abandon the Covid system of testing for holidaymakers who have been fully vaccinated.
However, ministers plan to eliminate this requirement. They will announce their decision by Wednesday. Since January 2013, travel swabs have been introduced to allow fully-vaccinated Britons to go overseas without the need for a test upon return.
It is understood the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ could remain two jabs rather than three until spring. Travellers who do not have a booster vaccine could be subject to testing restrictions.
Travellers who are not vaccinated will still be subject to numerous tests and may even have to self-isolate.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, is believed to be leading the effort for the removal of remaining restrictions on testing.
However, all arrivals will still need to fill out a passenger locator form within 48 hours of arrival in England.
Boris Johnson, his predecessor in this matter, came under heavy pressure at the Commons after he declared that Plan B curbs would be lifted.
This move will provide a boost to the travel industry, which has been hard hit since the government scrapped costly pre-return PCR swabs and expensive post-arrival PCR swabs.
Former PM Theresa May said: ‘If we’re going to learn to live with Covid, we need to facilitate travel.
“So will.” [Mr Johnson] take this opportunity to announce that when Plan B restrictions are removed next week, the Government will also make it clear that there will be no testing requirements for anybody entering England who is fully-vaccinated?’
He replied: ‘We’re certainly reviewing the testing arrangements for travel and [Health Secretary Sajid Javid] will be making a statement in the next few days.’
Alluding to the fact many countries will likely require three jabs as a condition of entry, he added: ‘But I think it’s very important everybody in the country understands that getting your booster, wherever you want to go in the world, is going to be a pretty crucial thing to do.’
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: ‘Ministers have been saying all the right things about needing to get on with our lives – this feels like the last hurdle to achieving that.’