Government will remove Amber List quarantine for vaccinated and their children from August – report

Links on Head for Points may pay us an affiliate commission. A list of partners is here.

The Sun has an exclusive report tonight (picked up by sister paper The Times, which means they are probably not making it up!) that the Government has agreed to lift travel restrictions for the ‘double vaccinated’ along with unvaccinated children under 16.

‘From August’ – no exact date is given – anyone will be able to visit an Amber List destination without the need for quarantine on their return.

You can read the article here. The Times version is behind a paywall.

Government will remove Amber List quarantine for vaccinated and their children from August

There is no clarification on what sort of testing will be required, but presumably the need for a ‘Day 2’ PCR test will remain.

The Sun claims that an announcement may be made on Thursday to allow airlines and travellers to make plans. Thursday is the next date for an update on which countries will appear on the ‘no quarantine required’ Green LIst.

The Sun implies that the August date is a done deal, and the only speculative element is whether ministers will decide to pull it forward to 19th July. This would coincide with the start of the school holidays in England.

Adults will only be allowed to avoid quarantine if they had their second vaccination at least 14 days before travel.

The big hole in the plan, clearly, is what happens if you have children aged 16-18. This age group is too young for vaccination, but will also not be exempt from 10 days of home quarantine if this story is accurate.

It is possible – and this is my hypothesis, not from The Sun – that the Government is trying to head off any fall-out from the ‘day of action’ planned by the travel industry tomorrow. This will include a protest on College Green at Westminster.

The Government has also been facing increased pressure from its own MPs. Huw Merriman, Conservative chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee, said today that the approach to overseas travel was ‘far too cautious’.

It is also likely that press pictures of German tourists on the beaches of Spain and Portugal has started to feed back into pressure from voters for more freedoms in the UK.

To confirm, this story – whilst currently the top headline on The Times website (The Sun hides it under their England football coverage) – is still just ‘informed rumour’ ie a Government leak. Let’s see what happens on Thursday.

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Joan says:

23 Jun23 June 09:50

Ooh I was due to go to Zurich this week to visit my daughter which obviously isn’t happening – so after reading this article I have rebooked for august🤞
Michael C says:

23 Jun23 June 11:14

LHR T2 parking advice pls.
Picking up my mum on Friday (after 19 months!!): am I right in thinking there’s no need to book for a couple of hours online (prices seems exactly the same).
Only difference I was was “fast-track parking opposite arrivals”, which is offered online but can’t see it in the “normal” prices.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  23 Jun23 June 12:03
  
  Park up at a nearby by services or supermarket etc
  
  Then get her to phone you when she’s near the front of the immigration queue and save yourself 2 hours parking?
  - Michael C says:
    
    23 Jun23 June 12:44
    
    Thanks, TG – totally would with sis, etc., but mum needs assistance. Will just do the fast-track and pay into the LHR coffers: they probably need it!
Niall says:

23 Jun23 June 17:59

I’m double vaccinated and going on a trip to Spain from which I’m due to return on 30 July. Now I’ll have to keep an eye out for this date and keep an eye on the green list. I’d certainly rather extend my stay in Spain for a bit longer than pay for the amber testing. Wonder how busy/costly those flights will be for the day they announce that this takes effect.
- Anna says:
  
  23 Jun23 June 21:29
  
  I think what’s more likely is that countries will stay on the Amber list but the quarantine requirement will be dropped in favour of even more testing!
  But prices are still low so you could get a cheap return leg for after August 1st. Or RFS if the airports suit you and you are an Avios collector.
  - Niall says:
    
    23 Jun23 June 23:05
    
    Thanks Anna, you’re probably right! RFS booking for 50p might be good backup option!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  24 Jun24 June 01:40
  
  I don’t think testing will be dropped just quarantine
  
  Talk of day 2 testing being dropped for green countries.
  - Rob says:
    
    24 Jun24 June 09:00
    
    Given how easy my Collinson test was on Friday I have no problem with this staying – the only issue is cost.
Gary_Dexter says:

24 Jun24 June 12:35

I note it states no need to quarantine on return to the UK – but I guess you will still have to follow the country that you arrive in quarantine rules and you’re not exempt from those?