From 4am on Sunday 9 January, eligible fully vaccinated
travellers and over 5s will be able to take a lateral flow test
instead of a PCR on or before day 2 of their arrival in England.
Lateral flow tests for travel can be booked from Friday 7 January
and taken upon arrival, by the end of day 2.
Eligible fully vaccinated passengers and under 18s will no longer
need to take a pre-departure test or self-isolate on arrival in
England from 4am on Friday 7 January but must continue to take
their post-arrival tests.
As data shows Omicron is the dominant variant in the UK and
spreading widely in the community it is now proportionate to
cautiously reduce testing measures at the borders.
Anyone who receives a positive result on their lateral flow test
must self-isolate immediately and order a NHS PCR test from
gov.uk. Positive PCR tests
for arrivals will be sequenced to understand if and where
variants are emerging around the globe in order to protect the UK
public.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“As we learn more about the Omicron variant it is right that we
keep our testing and border measures under review to ensure they
remain proportionate.
“The steps we’re taking will make travel easier for people while
protecting the UK public from the virus.
“Omicron continues to be a serious threat and it is important
that travellers continue to get tested. The most important thing
anyone can do if they haven’t already is come forward for their
vaccine.”
Transport Secretary, said:
“I’ve always said that we won’t keep international travel
restrictions in place any longer than they are necessary to
protect public health.
“That’s why we’re removing the temporary, extra testing measures
we introduced for Omicron in November, making travel easier and
cheaper for fully vaccinated passengers and providing a big boost
for the travel industry as we enter the peak new year booking
period.
“We want to provide more certainty to passengers
and businesses, and will do a full review of our
international travel measures for 2022 by the end of the
month.”
Dr Susan Hopkins UK Health Security Agency said:
“It is vital anyone who receives a positive Day 2 lateral flow
test self-isolates immediately and orders a PCR on gov uk. All
travel PCRs with high amounts of virus are sequenced to help us
understand if any new variants are emerging around the world and
entering the UK.
“Everyone must continue to wear face coverings where required,
wash hands regularly and work from home to help stop the spread
of the virus and keep our loved ones and community safe.”
Lateral flow tests for international travel must be purchased
from a private provider as NHS Test and Trace lateral flow tests
cannot be used for international travel. Passengers who have
already bought a PCR to use for travel do not need to buy another
test as PCRs can still be used.
Unvaccinated passengers must continue to take a pre-departure
test, PCR test on or before Day 2 and on or
after Day 8 and self-isolate for 10 days. ‘Test to release’
remains an option for unvaccinated people to shorten their
self-isolation period.
Proof of vaccination from over 15 further countries and
territories will be accepted for entry into England from 4am
on Monday 10 January: Bhutan, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Fiji,
Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, north of Cyprus, Palau,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, The Gambia and
Uzbekistan.
The World Health Organisation has recently granted WHO Emergency
Use List (EUL) authorisation to the two versions of the ‘Novavax’
vaccine named Covovax and Nuvaxovid. Therefore, eligible
travellers who have received either version of this vaccine will
be recognised for international travel into England from 4am on
Monday 10 January.
No countries have been added to the UK travel red list, which
remains on standby. A further review of all travel measures will
be carried out later in the month, and our long-term goal remains
to return to safe, restriction-free travel as soon as it’s safe
to do so.
Notes to editors:
