The number of countries on the “red list” for international travel should be reduced this week Bedford News

The government is preparing to reduce the number of countries on the ‘red list’ for international travel significantly, from 54 to just nine, according to the Telegraph.

There are reports that travel restrictions in the UK are set to be eased further this week, with many countries currently on the ‘red list’ to be removed.

This move has yet to be confirmed, but has been widely predicted since the government failed to remove many countries from the “red list” in the last update.

Of the 54 countries currently under such restrictions, it is believed that only nine may still be subject to restrictions after the government’s next travel announcement.

Speaking to the Telegraph, a source said: “We expect big red list reductions. There may only be nine countries left on the list. “

The changes that take effect from Monday will see the current traffic light system removed, with countries classified instead as “red list” or “rest of the world” (ROW)

Fully vaccinated travelers arriving from ROW countries will not need to be tested prior to departure upon return to the UK, while unvaccinated people will still need to be tested and self-isolate for 10 days

The current traffic light system will be replaced with a single red list of countries and territories starting at 4 a.m. on Monday, October 4, while countries previously on the green and amber lists will be classified as “rest of the world”.

Testing requirements will be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travelers, who will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when they travel to England.

From the end of October, fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a selected group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day two test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of back-flow testing. ‘arrival in England.

Anyone who tests positive will need to self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.

Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will continue to include pre-departure testing, PCR testing on days two and eight, although release testing remains an option to reduce the self-isolation period. .

Those who are not double-bitten will also be required to self-isolate even if they return from a country previously on the green list, which is not currently the case.

From October 4, England will also welcome fully vaccinated travelers from a host of new countries – who will be treated as fully vaccinated returning British travelers – including 17 countries and territories such as Japan and Singapore, continued the success of an existing pilot project with the United States. and European.

The Welsh government is considering following UK government guidelines, but Scotland has said it will not remove the requirement for fully vaccinated people to take a pre-departure test before returning from destinations not on the red list .

However, both administrations said they would reflect changes to Red List destinations.

Northern Ireland has yet to announce whether it will make any changes to travel rules.