Quarantine-free travel for double-jabbed 'in time for school summer holidays'

According to The Times, Quarantine-free travel could be possible for double-vaccinated holidaymakers by July 26, which is the first week of school holidays.The relaxation would be limited to UK residents who have access to the NHS initially, but it is expected that a deal will be made to extend it to all citizens in the European Union.According to reports, the UK is close to an agreement that will allow British holidaymakers to use the NHS app to prove their double-jabbery.The NHS app would be recognized by all EU countries as a vaccination certificate. However, the UK would recognize the EU's digital green card through a mutual recognition agreement.Additional: Amber travel possibilities for fully vaccinated adults are offered by lateral flow testsJet2 supports travel to Amber Countries without quarantineThe app will also verify travellers Covid status by testing. This allows them to travel to countries that allow quarantine free travel, such as Spain, provided they have a negative PCR.The UK government has to coordinate with other countries that accept the NHS app for a vaccine certificate.As the green list expands this month, the UK ambassadors to Europe were instructed to lobby for the lifting restrictions on British holidaymakers.This is part of an inter-governmental push to reopen foreign tourism in time for families to take advantage of the 16-months of coronavirus restrictions.According to a government source, the main focus of the newspaper is Europe right now. All European ambassadors were told to lobby.The Home Office is yet to decide whether verification of Covid certification will be done before passengers travel, at border controls, or via spot inspections by officials, who currently are checking on persons who are supposed quarantining.The Times cited government sources that suggested that Sajid Javids appointment to the role of health secretary had extended the deadline for the introduction of quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travelers.Minister said that the intention was for it to be in place by week's end.Another Conservative MP stated: We are basing quite some hope on Sajid Javid's return to government, we think his big change in the governments approach towards international travel will be a major one.Senior government sources said that no final decision was made yet on the timing. There are many issues to resolve and we wait for advice from the public on operational and exemptions.These details need to be sorted out before we can give any further details. However, it is expected that it will happen at the end of July or beginning of August.Vision Box, which operates all UK's e-passport gates said it had the technology in place to scan vaccine certificates from the UK and EU.Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, confirmed Tuesday that new rules will be implemented in stages to allow fully vaccinated travelers to escape quarantine upon returning from Amber destinations.Shapps explained to MPs that recognizing vaccinated travelers would require a complex policy that takes time.Echoing the Department for Transport announcement of last Thursday (June 24, 2008), he said three issues must be addressed: how children will be considered, what happens to those who cannot be vaccinated, and how airports and ports can recognize people's vaccine status.Additional: Amber travel possibilities for fully vaccinated adults are offered by lateral flow testsJet2 supports travel to Amber Countries without quarantine