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The UK government announced on January 24 that it would scrap compulsory COVID-19 tests for fully vaccinated arrivals and quarantine for unvaccinated travellers, This "new phase" in its pandemic strategy will be put in place starting February 11.
Currently, fully vaccinated arrivals are required to take a lateral flow test within two days, while those unvaccinated must self-isolate for 10 days and take several tests before and after travel. The new rules come in place to make travel easier and cheaper.
"It's obvious to me now that border testing for vaccinated travellers has outlived its usefulness and we're therefore scrapping all travel tests for vaccinated people," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.
The self-isolation requirement for unjabbed travellers will end from the same date, but the PCR tests done before and after travel and a completed passenger locator form will still be needed, he added.
"This is a proportionate system that moves us a step closer to normality while maintaining vital public health protections," Shapps said.
Furthermore, the UK will start accepting vaccine certificates from a further 16 countries - including China and Mexico - which now means it recognises more than 180 countries' COVID-19 vaccine documentation.
"We're moving into a new phase of the fight against Covid, instead of protecting the UK from a pandemic our future depends on us living with endemic Covid," Shapps said.
A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic called them "the final step in moving towards frictionless air travel".
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