No more quarantine for double jabbed people coming back from amber list countries
Fully jabbed adults and children under 18 will no longer have to self isolate
Last updated 8th Jul 2021
People who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to return quarantine-free to England from amber list countries from July 19th.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps detailed his plans to MPs to free up foreign holidays as coronavirus restrictions are eased.
He confirmed that holidaymakers from the UK who have received two jabs will no longer be required to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to England from destinations on the amber list.
With only 27 countries on the green list at the moment, this will give people wanting to go on holiday many more options.
Mr Shapps told the Commons:
“They’ll still be required to take a test three days before returning, the pre-departure test, demonstrating they’re negative before they travel, and a PCR test on or before day two, but they will no longer be required to take a day eight test.
“In essence, this means that for fully vaccinated travellers the requirements for green and amber list countries are the same.
“To be clear, a full vaccination means 14 days have passed since your final dose of the vaccine"
Under 18s won't have to self-isolate
The Transport Secretary told the Commons that those under 18 will also be able to return to England without quarantining:
“Children under 18 returning from amber list countries will not have to isolate on their return nor take a day eight test. Children between the ages of five and 10 will only need to take a day two test – and, as before, children four and under will be exempt from all testing and isolation requirements.”
How do you prove you're fully vaccinated?
On proving vaccination status, Mr Shapps said: “More than 30 countries and territories are now recognising vaccine certification as part of entry requirements – either accepting a proof of vaccination letter or the NHS app itself, and we will continue to increase that number so the NHS app becomes the natural default.”
Are you allowed to travel to amber list countries?
At the moment, the government's guidance is that you shouldn't go to amber list countries for leisure, even with quarantine measures in place, but the Transport Secretary confirmed that would change:
“From July 19, we will remove the guidance that people should not travel to countries on the amber list. This means people will be able to travel for leisure, business and to see family in amber list countries.”
But Mr Shapps cautioned “an amber list country could still turn red”, meaning hotel quarantine would become a requirement.
Meet some of the people giving us our jabs
David Atherton won the Bake Off in 2019. He's now serving up vaccines in London
Elvis impersonator Dr Andy Mason vaccinated two of his backing singers, who also happen to be his daughters
Drag Race star Cherry Valentine has been part of the Vaccination programme in Lancashire (presumably not wearing those nails!)
Edgar Woodhead, on the left in his "normal" role as an airline pilot, and on the right, as a vaccinator in Ilkley, Yorkshire
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