UK-France travel: Traffic light and PCR test update put back to Friday
The announcement, which was initially expected this afternoon, is believed to mark the end of the costly day two PCR tests for vaccinated travellers
An announcement on potential changes to the UK's traffic light travel rules has been postponed until tomorrow
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An eagerly anticipated UK government update on foreign travel rules has been postponed until tomorrow (September 17).
鈥淎ll the indications are that a more wide-ranging announcement will be made by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, on Friday,鈥� said travel journalist Simon Calder in an article in The Independent.
鈥淏riefings indicate that the current complicated system of five separate traffic light categories (including the green watchlist and 鈥渟uper green鈥� rules for Ireland) is likely to be reduced to just three.
鈥淎t one end of the spectrum, Ireland is expected to retain its special 鈥渟uper green鈥� status, with no restrictions on travel to the UK. At the other extreme, a red list of high-risk locations will continue.
鈥淚n between, all the other countries will be treated the same. The new category, for which the name 鈥榞ramber鈥� has unfortunately been suggested, would cover almost everywhere in Europe, including our most popular destinations: Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Greece.鈥�
The government had been expected to announce the end of the costly day two PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers in favour of cheaper lateral flow tests.
Currently, all travellers must take a PCR test costing between 拢65 and 拢70 on or before the second day after their return to the UK. Unvaccinated travellers from amber list countries and all travellers from red list countries must also carry out a day eight PCR test.
