Filenews 4 October 2021
The "traffic light" system for travelling to England ceases to apply as of today, while the status of coronavirus diagnostic tests for fully vaccinated visitors is also changing.
The green and orange categories of countries depending on their risk to the coronavirus are being abolished and there is now only one red list of countries left.
Fully vaccinated travellers to England no longer need to undergo a diagnostic test before the departure flight. The obligation to fill out a passenger locator form (PLF) and perform a molecular PCR test on the second day of arrival is maintained, however from the end of October, on a date to be determined soon, this expensive PCR test will be replaced by a cheaper rapid side-flow test.
Unvaccinated travellers will still be required to test before traveling to England and molecular testing on the second and eighth days of arrival, as well as the obligation to isolate for ten days, regardless of which country they come from.
For travellers from "red" countries, who can only be British nationals or permanent residents, the obligation to quarantine 11 days at a government-selected hotel is maintained at a government-preferred hotel for a cost of £2,285 charged to the traveller.
The changes for the time being will only apply to England.
