Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK lifts quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers from US and EU

UK lifts quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers from US and EU

DOUBLE-vaccinated travellers from the US and European Union can now avoid quarantine when arriving in England from amber list countries, as per a government announcement recently made today (28).

The policy change was agreed at a top-level ministerial Covid meeting on Wednesday (28) afternoon, and will apply from 4 am on Monday (2), reports said.


UK prime minister Boris Johnson reportedly pushed for the change because he is concerned that the EU is enabling international travel faster than the UK, and that Britain is “squandering its vaccine bonus”, stated media reports.

In a statement released following the meeting, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We’ve taken great strides on our journey to reopen international travel and today is another important step forward. 

“Whether you are a family reuniting for the first time since the start of the pandemic or a business benefiting from increased trade – this is the progress we can all enjoy,” he said.

GettyImages 1232745399 Britain's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (photo by Tolga Akmen-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Department for Transport also said in the statement that travellers should have received authorised jabs approved by concerned countries' respective authorities, namely European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Swiss vaccination programme for EU and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for US travellers.

Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid added that the government was “taking another step on the road to normality which will reunite friends and families and give UK businesses a boost”.

The move by the UK government is expected to benefit Britons living abroad along with US and EU travellers who are double-jabbed.

However, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said the plan was “reckless” and that it might end up with new variants arriving in the UK.

Currently, only those who have had two vaccine doses administered by the NHS are eligible for a “Covid pass”, showing which they are allowed to avoid isolating for up to 10 days if travelling from an amber list country – so long as they test negative before departure. 

While many EU countries accept the UK’s Covid pass as proof of vaccination and allow the entry of double-jabbed Britons, the US said earlier this week its tight restrictions will stay in place for more time.

The pressure was growing on the UK government to ease restrictions on those in other countries who are fully vaccinated, with ministers facing criticism for having more stringent controls in place at the border currently than there was last summer.

More For You

Ed-Miliband

Miliband’s Delhi visit this week is aimed at increasing UK clean energy investment opportunities and placing British businesses at the forefront of the global race for renewables.

Miliband pushes clean energy ties in India

SECRETARY of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Miliband, arrived in New Delhi on Monday (10) for the fourth UK-India Energy Dialogue and to promote UK business interests at the India Energy Week global exhibition.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the aim of the visit is to unlock economic growth from clean energy transition, support new jobs, create export opportunities and tackle the climate crisis in partnership with India.

Keep ReadingShow less
Salman Rushdie

Rushdie was stabbed about 15 times: in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging his liver and intestines. (Photo: Getty Images)

Rushdie attack trial begins as jurors shown graphic details

JURORS heard how a knife attack on novelist Salman Rushdie unfolded in a matter of seconds at a 2022 New York talk and how close he came to death, in the prosecutor's opening statement on Monday (10) at the trial of the man accused of trying to murder the author.

A poet introducing the talk, on the subject of keeping writers safe from harm, was barely into his second sentence when defendant Hadi Matar bounded onto the Chautauqua Institution open-air stage and made about 10 running steps towards a seated Rushdie, Chautauqua District Attorney Jason Schmidt told the jury.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Yvette-Cooper-Getty

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said employers had for too long been able to "exploit illegal migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken". (Photo: Getty Images)

Immigration arrests up 73 per cent in January

UK immigration enforcement teams made more than 600 arrests in January, a 73 per cent increase on the same period a year ago, as part of the Labour government's plan to tackle undocumented migration and people smuggling gangs, officials said on Monday (10).

The 609 arrests, compared to 352 in January 2024, were made during visits to 800 premises including nail bars, restaurants, car washes and convenience stores, a government statement said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi-Macron

Modi and Macron will also hold discussions in restricted and delegation-level formats and address the India-France CEO’s Forum. (Photo: X/@narendramodi)

Modi meets Macron and JD Vance in Paris

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by French president Emmanuel Macron at a dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Macron greeted Modi with a hug as they met on Monday.

"Delighted to meet my friend, President Macron in Paris," Modi posted on X.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harshita Brella

The body of the 24-year-old was discovered in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on November 14 last year.

Harshita Brella’s family seeks answers as fundraiser launched

AN ASIAN solicitor and businessman has set up a fund in memory of Harshita Brella, who was found murdered in east London in November last year.

The Harshita Brella Memorial Fund, organised by Amrit S Maan OBE JP, aims to support her family as they seek answers about her death.

Keep ReadingShow less