UK scraps coronavirus test for vaccinated travellers, saying it’s ‘open for business’
- The change will take effect on February 11, in a move hailed by the tourism industry as a big step back to normality
- The government is also lifting mask mandates and other restrictions this week, and is relying on vaccinations and widespread testing to keep the virus in check
The British government announced on Monday that it is scrapping coronavirus travel testing requirements for the vaccinated, news hailed by the travel industry as a big step back to normality.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “to show that this country is open for business, open for travellers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated, if they have been double vaccinated”.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the change would take effect February 11, coinciding with a midterm holiday break for many schoolchildren.
“Border testing of vaccinated travellers has outlived its usefulness,” Shapps said. “Today we are setting Britain free.”
Tourism and travel firms that have been hammered by pandemic restrictions welcomed the move, which makes the UK one of the most open countries in the world for international travel.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of airline industry body Airlines UK, said it was “a landmark day”.