UPDATE: There will be no quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated US and EU visitors to England and Scotland. The new rule comes into force on Monday 2nd August at 4am.
Those who have been fully vaccinated in the EU or US will not need to isolate when coming to England or Scotland from an amber list country.
Currently, only people who received their jabs in the UK can avoid quarantine when arriving from amber list countries. France is an exception to that rule.
No quarantine rule allows friends and family to reunite
The government said the rule change would help to reunite family and friends.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it would apply to people who have been fully vaccinated with a jab approved by the EU or US.
There is still a Covid test requirement. Visitors need to take a Covid pre-departure test, plus a PCR test on the second day after they arrive.
Under-18s will be exempt from isolation, and some will not have to test, depending on their age.
UPDATE: Hours after England announced the change, Scotland followed suit. Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said, “This has only been made possible due to the overwhelming success of our vaccination programme here in Scotland when coupled with successful roll-outs of vaccination schemes in the EU and US.”
Travel industry can restart
The UK travel and tourism will have given a big sigh of relief at the news. The sector has been hard hit throughout the pandemic.
Airlines UK, which represents big carriers, said the move would offer “a lifeline for thousands of businesses reliant on international inbound travel”.
International cruises can depart from England once more, under new guidance.
