On a visit to Milton Keynes Hospital today (24 January), Mr Johnson said: “What we’re doing on travel, to show that this country is open for business, open for travellers, you will see changes so that people arriving no longer have to take tests if they have been vaccinated, if they have been double vaccinated.”
Transport secretary Grant Shapps will announce details of the new travel testing rules in a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon. We’re also checking if the governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will follow suit and we’ll update this story when we know more – but they’ve so far followed the same rules on travel testing as in England.
The shake-up follows pressure from the bosses of major airlines, who wrote to the UK Government demanding an end to coronavirus-related travel restrictions.
If you’re heading abroad or returning to the UK, see our guide on How to find the cheapest Covid tests for overseas travel and our guide to your Coronavirus Travel Rights.
Currently, fully vaccinated arrivals to the UK must pre-book and take a post-arrival test from a private supplier. This can be a lateral flow test, which typically costs around £19.
Meanwhile, arrivals who are not fully vaccinated must take a pre-departure test and two post-arrival PCR tests, which are more expensive than the lateral flow version. They must also self-isolate for 10 days.
Testing and isolation may also be demanded by the destination you’re visiting overseas too.
More to follow…
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
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