Travel News Update
TRAVEL UPDATE
Key changes since the last travel update
Red list update, Friday 26 November 2021
- South Africa,
- Botswana,
- Eswatini,
- Lesotho,
- Namibia and
- Zimbabwe
All above moved onto the red list at 12.00 midday Friday 26 November. A temporary flight ban is in place and all travellers who have been in these countries must quarantine and take tests.
- Day 2 if vaccinated can be a lateral flow or PCR.
- Now that the rules have relaxed for entering the UK, your holiday plans are no longer reliant on green or amber travel lists. Provided that UK arrivals are permitted in your destination, and it’s not on the red list, you can go there on holiday.
- As of November 8, fully-vaccinated Brits will be free to travel to the US.
Government Policy
RED LIST UPDATE
There are different rules if you have been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England. Red list rules apply whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
You will not need to quarantine on arrival in England or take a day 8 COVID-19 test, as long as you:
Have been fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme.
You will need to take a Day 2 PCR or Lateral flow test Day 0-Day 2
You will need to:
Declare that you have been fully vaccinated on your passenger locator form.
Show proof of your vaccination status to your carrier (ferry, airline or train) when you travel via NHS app.
If the test result is positive – lateral flow test
If you booked a lateral flow test and the result is positive, you must take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate until you get the result of the PCR test. This is provided by the NHS when it is reported to them by the provider of the lateral flow.
If the PCR test result is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day you took the lateral flow test is day 0. Members of your household may also be asked to self-isolate.
If the test result is positive – PCR test
If you booked a PCR test and the result is positive, you must self-isolate for 10 full days. The day of the test is day 0. Members of your household may also be asked to self-isolate.
Children Testing Requirements:
UK resident between 5 and 17 years old need to get tested on day 2 (LFT or PCR) no need to test before arriving in the UK.
NON UK-resident 11 and above will need a PCR test to come into the UK, and 5 to 17 have to do Day 2 and Day 8 and Quarantine so Day 5 if they want.
*Fully vaccinated means that you have had your final dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before the date you arrive in England. However, the day you had your final dose will not count as part of the two weeks.
**Not fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme, you will have to quarantine on arrival and take both the day 2 and day 8 tests.
Day 2 Day 8 explained:
Children under five do not need to take day 2 and day 8 tests.
Day 2 (swab on day 0, 1, 2)
The day of your arrival into UK is treated as day 0. Test will be sent the day before your arrival to the place you identified as a place of your isolation.
- The day 2 test is designed to identify any potentially harmful variants of Covid-19. Tests are taken in your own accommodation and then sent to the laboratory.
- If you receive a positive result- a 10-day quarantine begins the day after the test was taken (i.e., day 13). You will also not be required to take any further test.
Day 8 (swab on day 8, 9, 10 )
Take a test on or after day 8 unless you have a positive result from day 2. Test day 8 will be posted to the place you identified as a place of your isolation on day 6 of your arrival.
- If you receive a positive result from this test, you will be required to quarantine until day 19.
