47 countries removed from travel red list in ‘big step forward’

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The government has drastically reduced the travel red list, removing 47 countries including South Africa, Brazil and Mexico.

Only seven countries remain on the list.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the move was a “big step forward” for the UK travel industry and travelers.

She said 47 countries will be removed from the red list as of 4 a.m. Monday, making it easier for more people to travel abroad to more countries. Passengers returning to England from these destinations will no longer be required to enter hotel quarantine.

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The government will also expand the indoor vaccination access scheme to 37 other countries and territories around the world including India, South Africa and Turkey, meaning that eligible passengers coming from the rest of the world only need to take a second day test in England.

It said passengers will be able to submit a picture of the lateral flow test as a minimum requirement to verify the accuracy of test results and keep prices low once the two tests switch to lateral flow later this month, followed by a free PCR test if positive.

Mr. Shapps announced the move in a series of tweets around 5:20 p.m. Thursday.

“The measures announced today represent the next step as we continue to open travel and provide stability to passengers and industry while remaining on track to keep travel open forever,” he said.

The announcement of the red list exceeds expectations of travel experts who have estimated that dozens of countries have been removed from the red list, meaning returning vacationers will not have to stay in quarantine hotels for 11 nights at a cost of more than £2,200.

Soon the delta variant came from India and tore the country apart due to its high portability.

There were 54 countries on the red list, which includes all those in South America and southern and eastern Africa.

Delegated administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have set their own travel rules but have recently reversed the announcements made in Westminster.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, predicted that only a few “less-visited regions” such as Afghanistan, Haiti and Somalia would remain on the red list, with “mass measures related to Africa and South America removed”.

He told the PA news agency that this would be a “big step forward” because it meant the government “will finally move to an individual risk policy.”

The travel industry welcomed the news.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “The significant reduction in the Red List and recognition of the vaccination status in many countries is another positive step towards the UK’s recovery from the pandemic and the strengthening of international travel.

“We stand ready to welcome fully vaccinated entrants from India, South Africa and Hong Kong to the UK. However, to ensure that the full economic benefits are realized and Britain’s global ambitions are realized, all testing for vaccinated travelers must be completely removed from low-risk destinations, bringing us in line with Europe and the states United.

“We look forward to receiving the date of reopening the US borders to fully vaccinated international visitors as soon as possible, allowing the UK to strengthen relations with our most important economic partner, promoting trade and tourism as well as reuniting friends, families and business colleagues.”

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