A media report today suggested that the widely criticised traffic light rules for international travel could be repealed by the end of next month.
The new system is based on travellers' vaccination status rather than the Covid rating for the country they are visiting.
The Daily Telegraph reported that green and amber would be merged, but red will remain, with travelers still being required to quarantine in hotels upon their return from high-risk locations.
Double-jabbed holidaymakers are now able to travel to amber country without the need to quarantine upon their return, after the government removed the requirement to self-isolate.
This means that fully-vaccinated travelers can visit amber and green countries with no additional testing. A PCR test is required within two days after returning to the UK.
The proposed two-tiered system will have no impact on travellers who are not vaccinated.
It is not clear if they will be required to remain in quarantine or undergo a more rigorous testing regimen upon their return to the UK.
Ministers pledged to review the traffic light system by October 1, when it was first unveiled. This has prompted a rethink.
This coincides with the conclusion of the vaccination rollout. All adults over 18 years old will be offered their jabs by September 31st.
An easier way to classify countries into high-risk or low-risk categories would make the UK more comparable with other countries. This would allow the UK to focus on travel that is vaccinated.
However, it is unlikely that the government will abandon costly PCR tests for all arrivals. There is increasing pressure to replace them by cheaper lateral flow tests.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the issue is not about where you're going but whether you have been vaccinated.
It means that green and amber will disappear, and that only your vaccination status will be considered for travel. A vaccinated person is able to travel to all countries except red.
It could make it more difficult to travel to green countries if you are not vaccinated. It is possible to get a psychological boost by thinking that amber travel is dangerous. However, if it were not, people might be more open to traveling to X, Y, and Z.
It may also encourage people to get vaccinated. The rate of vaccination has been declining, especially among young people. This is a way to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
Yesterday, British Airways' chief executive reiterated industry arguments about the inability of the UK's traffic light system to allow international travel. It must be simplified.
Sean Doyle stated that rules regarding quarantine and coronavirus testing for arriving passengers must be simplified for both airlines and passengers.
He stated that the traffic light system was in place since the summer. Although there was some progress, I believe it is not up to the task. It should be simplified and adapted to the same extent as in Europe and the USA.
We encourage the government in taking advantage of this opportunity within the next few days. The same economic crackdown is needed for aviation as it does for other sectors. The current system does not allow for this.
Paul Charles, chief executive at travel PR agency the PC Agency tweeted: The traffic lights system will be scrapped by Oct 1st. Many of us working in the sector, including airlines, are aware that plans are being made to create a simpler system where countries are either red-colored or not. This would be the US model, which I have been calling for.
It would be a relief for everyone to get rid of the traffic lights and allow people to make a living by adopting an endemic approach, rather than using blanket country measures.
It would be a relief for countries in Africa, South America, and Asia that are not on the red-list.
A spokesperson for the government stated that international travel policy was guided by one priority: protecting public health.
Our traffic light system decisions are constantly reviewed and informed by the most recent risk assessment from the Joint Biosecurity Centre as well as other public health factors. The next formal review of checkpoints will be held on October 1, 2021.
