National
Travellers double-jabbed in the EU can avoid quarantine in England from 2 August
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The decision, which also applies to people vaccinated in the US, was made to help "reunite people with their family and friends in the UK" said the Transport Secretary
Travellers who have been fully vaccinated in EU countries will no longer have to quarantine on arrival in England from an amber country from next Monday, 2 August.
After a Covid operations meeting attended by senior ministers this Wednesday, 28 July, the British government's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the decision, which also affects those vaccinated in the US, in a tweet.
"We're helping reunite people living in the US and European countries with their family and friends in the UK.
"From 2nd August at 4am people from these countries will be able to come to the England from an amber country without having to quarantine if they're fully vaxxed."
Shapps went on to tweet that the changes will apply to fully vaccinated people with a US FDA or EMA approved vaccine.
He added that travellers will still need to do the usual pre-departure test before arrival and take a PCR test on day two of returning to England.
Those arriving in England from amber-list countries who have been vaccinated in the EU currently have to quarantine for ten days and have compulsory PCR tests on the second and eighth day, with the option of early test and release on the fifth day.
The quarantine requirement was lifted earlier this month for holidaymakers vaccinated through the UK NHS system returning to England from amber countries.
Spain is currently on England's Covid risk amber list, which is due to be reviewed next week.
We're helping reunite people living in the US and European countries with their family and friends in the UK
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) July 28, 2021
From 2nd August at 4am people from these countries will be able to come to the England from an amber country without having to quarantine if they're fully vaxxed
