The United Kingdom Government will reveal in May which countries it considers more or less safe as a travel destination in a system by colors – green, orange and red – which will in turn determine the measures it will require from travelers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Minister of Transport, Grant Shapps, presented on Friday this new “traffic light” mechanism, previously announced, by which travelers to “green” countries will not have to quarantine upon their return to the United Kingdom, although they will have to undergo two tests, before and after returning.
Those who go to “orange” territories will have to isolate themselves for ten days upon their return and take a test before returning and two already in this country (with the option of a third on the fifth day of return if they want to shorten the isolation).
Travelers to “red” countries, whose visit will presumably be restricted, will have to quarantine at a designated hotel in addition to that minimum of three diagnostic tests.
To rank the countries, the Government will look at the progress of its vaccination plan, the degree of infection, the presence of risk variants of the virus and the reliability of scientific data.
Shapps said that in May it will also confirm when foreign travel – currently prohibited except in specified essential cases – can be resumed, on a date no earlier than the 17th of that month.
The minister assures that he works to lower the cost of the tests, amid criticisms from the aviation and tourism sectors that these conditions will make it difficult for citizens with fewer economic resources to travel.
Shapps stressed that the system presented today will allow to resume international travel in a “safe and sustainable” and indicated that the traffic light list and the requirements will be reviewed again no later than July 31 and later on October 1.