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No country has been added or removed from the UK travel corridor list, but a new quarantine exemption for ‘business travelers’ has been announced.
Starting at 4am on Saturday, people of various categories will no longer have to isolate themselves when returning to England, even if they are traveling from a country that is not on the travel broker list.
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Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said exemptions will be “subject to specific criteria being met.”
Are:
- “High Value” Business Travelers
- Certain professionals in the performing arts
- Television production staff
- Journalists
- Newly signed elite athletes
Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said the measure will allow “more travel to support the economy and jobs” and a comprehensive guide will be issued soon.
The exemptions will be “subject to specific criteria being met”, including travel that creates or preserves at least 50 jobs in the UK.
Individuals will only be exempted when conducting a specific business activity and will only be allowed to meet other people as required, the Department of Transportation (DfT) said.
The department said more information will be released once the new rules go into effect.
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According to the DfT, sectors such as the media and elite sport were also included, since “they require specific, highly talented people with international connections.”
He added: “PHE [Public Health England] do not anticipate that these changes will increase the risk of national transmission, due to the protocols being implemented around these exemptions, however, all exemptions will remain under review. “
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said the announcement was a “welcome first step in dismantling the quarantine system and demonstrating that Britain is open for business again.”
“There will be some big companies that can take advantage of it,” he said.
At the moment, almost all people returning to the UK from destinations that are not believed to be at low risk of COVID-19 having to isolate himself for 14 days.
From December 15, travelers arriving in England will be able to end their quarantine period after five days if they test negative for the virus.
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Will passengers welcome the quarantine change?
Passengers will have to pay for the tests themselves and will have to book with one of the private providers on the government list.
They will cost between £ 65 and £ 120.
