‘High-value’ business travelers will be exempted from quarantine in England | Transportation policy



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The company’s top executives are among the travelers who will be exempt from Covid-19 quarantine restrictions for international arrivals to England, which means they won’t have to isolate themselves for up to fifteen days.

Newly recruited elite athletes, performing arts professionals, television production staff, and journalists will also not have to comply with quarantine restrictions if arriving from a country outside of England’s travel corridor after 4 a.m. of Saturday.

Announcing the move on Twitter, Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said “high-value business travelers” would be exempted from quarantine rules in an effort to boost the economy, “subject to specific criteria being met.” .

It is understood that the exemption will apply to senior executives of the company, such as directors or their equivalents, who return or travel to England and who can provide a “significant” financial benefit. They will only qualify for the exemption if their job requires them to be there in person.

Currently, travelers from non-exempt countries must remain in quarantine for two weeks, but starting on December 15, people will be able to pay for a private coronavirus test to reduce their isolation time to just five days, provided they return. a negative result. The new “trial-to-release” regime comes after months of lobbying by the struggling airline industry.

Senior executives classified as bringing a “significant” financial benefit are understood to include those whose work creates or preserves 50 or more jobs for an existing UK company or a new UK company within one year of your arrival.

Shapps tweeted: “Exemption for new business travelers: starting at 4 a.m. From Saturday 5th December, high value business travelers … will no longer need to isolate themselves when returning to ENGLAND from a country that is NOT in a travel corridor, allowing more travel to support the economy and the job. Conditions apply. “

He added: “Beginning at 4 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, certain performing arts professionals … television production personnel … newly hired elite journalists and athletes will also be exempt, subject to being meet specific criteria. “

Providing additional details, the Department for Transport posted information on the government website stating that as of 4am on Saturday “persons engaging in specific business activities that would bring significant benefit to the UK economy, including activity creating or preserving more than 50 jobs in the UK, you no longer need to isolate yourself when traveling to or returning from non-exempt countries. Individuals will only be exempt when performing the specific business activity and may only meet with other people as required by that specific activity. “

He added: “The waivers will also go into effect at the same time for national and international performing arts professionals, television production staff, journalists and newly recruited elite athletes, ensuring that industries that require specific high-level individuals talents who depend on international connections can continue to complete their work. “

The DfT said Public Health England “does not anticipate that these changes will increase the risk of domestic transmission, due to the protocols being implemented around these exemptions, however all exemptions will remain under review.”

All travelers would still have to show and complete a passenger locator form upon arrival, the DfT added.



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