BRITS with vaccine passports will be fast-tracked through border checks in Greece when they arrive on holiday, Trending In The News can reveal.
Under plans being drawn up by Greek officials jabbed up Brits will be allowed to us a “green” lane, rather than a lengthy queue where border officials check for negative covid tests.
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Greek Officials told Trending In The News that they hoped to be able to offer the service – which will see covid vaccine status shown on an app – by mid-May, earlier than an EU wide scheme.
Bilateral talks between the two nations are thought to be at an “advanced stage” according to Greek insiders.
A source in the Greek capital Athen said: “They are at an advance stages -we’re almost there.”
Technical teams from both nations have been meeting almost daily – because they recognised when border restrictions begin to be loosened they could have a “revolution” on their hands if people were still hampered from going on holiday.
The Greek official added: “Our objective is to get the system in place by mid-May.
“The UK government knows that Greece is a favourite destination for millions of Britons and it wants to facilitate things so that travel can resume.”
Information required for the certificate to be issued is expected to be kept to a minimum.
Trending In The News understands that as well as the passengers full name, it would include a passport number and confirmation that they have been vaccinated.
With the pass traveller could pass through a “green” gate and not have to stand in line to show the results of a PCR tests when entering Greece – a much more expensive alternative for people who prefer not to be vaccinated.
But Department for Transport officials said any agreement with Greece was “no where near being signed off by ministers.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps chaired the first meeting of the new Global Travel Taskforce, to develop a plan for restarting international travel in a safe way from May 17.
The Taskforce will look at how existing measures, like testing and isolation schemes could be used to facilitate travel while managing the risk from imported vaccine busting variants.
It will take place in parallel and be closely integrated with the review into COVID-status certification led by the Michael Gove.
Mr Shapps said: “The UK’s leading vaccine rollout has created a wave of optimism and, as a result, the Global Travel Taskforce is charged with exploring safe and secure ways to restart international travel when the time is right.
“By planning carefully considered steps, we will protect the excellent progress made through our vaccine and advanced testing programme, whilst ensuring we are ready to kick-start our travel sector when current travel restrictions can be lifted.
“We will not only consider the progress of our world-beating domestic vaccine programme, but also need to review where destination countries have got to with both vaccine and testing capabilities.”
