SUN-STARVED Brits can celebrate after being told NO countries will be put on the red list again unless a new variant more dangerous than Omicron emerges.
The Government are set to overhaul the chaotic travel measures in favour of a “more sophisticated and targeted global surveillance system”.
It means holidaymakers can say bye-bye to costly hotel quarantines and unplanned extended stays abroad, while giving the travel industry a much-needed boost.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today announced the plan to get rid of the red list and “blanket border measures” unless another concerning Covid mutation surfaces.
Holiday hungry Brits will be able to book trips without forking out a whopping £2,285 to quarantine upon their return.
Last year, thousands of travellers were repeatedly left stranded in red-list countries when quarantine hotels reached their capacity.
The last-minute measures crippled the travel industry as Brits were left fearing huge financial headaches if they escaped to the sun.
But Mr Shapps has now said the red list would only be reinstated if there is “a variant of concern that poses a substantial risk, one which is even greater than Omicron”.
He told the House of Commons that the UK Health Security Agency will continue to keep a watchful eye on Covid infections overseas.
The Government will instead create a “full toolbox of contingency options” to prepare a response to possible mutations that could arise in the future.
It comes after it was revealed a new Covid strain dubbed “Omicron’s sister” was under investigation by UK health chiefs.
Travel bosses have welcomed the shakeup which will allow customers to “book with confidence”, as all Covid tests for the double-jabbed were also binned.
From 4am on February 11, fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK will no longer have to take a post-arrival lateral flow test.
The Transport Secretary continued: “That means after months of pre-departure testing, post-arrival testing, self-isolation and additional expense, all that fully vaccinated people will have to do when they travel to the UK is to verify their status via Passenger Locator Form.
“We are therefore scrapping all travel tests for vaccinated people, not only making travel much easier, but also saving about £100 per family on visits abroad.”
Mr Shapps has been spearheading the drive to ditch all tests for people coming into the UK as part of a bid to finally return to normal travel.
It will save families much-needed cash knowing they don’t need to splash out on lateral flow tests when they come back.
HOLI-YAY!
Unvaccinated Brits will have to take pre-departure tests and a post-arrival PCR test, but will no longer have to isolate or take another test on day eight.
In a double-boost for half-term holidays, 12- to-15-year-olds will be able to download the digital proof of vaccination, Mr Shapps confirmed.
It comes after families complained they were being forced to cancel their holidays because of restrictive” Covid-19 passport rules for kids abroad.
British Airways’ boss Sean Doyle praised the news, saying: “Today’s announcement provides a welcome boost to the travel industry and UK economy.
“Finally fully-vaccinated customers can start to book with confidence whether they are doing business, going on holiday or reuniting with friends and family without the additional costly and time-consuming burden of testing.
“It sends a clear message to the rest of the world that global Britain is back in business.”
The UK has already lifted a number of travel restrictions, including pre-departure tests.
Being “fully jabbed” will soon mean having all three – but this is not expected to be in place until later in the year.
Shapps said: “If you want to travel this year, don’t leave it too late to get your booster.”
