Britain Will Drop All COVID-19 Testing For Travel By End of January, Reports

According to sources close to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Britain will stop testing for COVID-19 by the end of January.

The review of emergency Plan B measures that were introduced to contain the Omicron surge will coincide with the official announcement on January 26. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to roll back nearly all of the restrictions on the swine flu.

The change only applies to travellers with recognised proof of vaccination. Travelers who are notvaccinated or partiallyvaccinated need to take at least three COVID-19 tests and self-isolate for 10 days.

Grant Shapps is said to be in favor of the rule change after being lobbied by the British airline and travel industry. Shapps needs to convince other cabinet ministers, including Health Secretary, who have overruled him in the past.

When the Omicron variant was first detected, travel testing was increased but the emergency measures did not stop the spread of the virus. The requirement for pre-departure testing was dropped by Britain because Omicron was the dominant variant.

Government ministers admitted that pre-departure testing was putting people off travelling because they were so scared of testing positive abroad and being barred from returning. The change was welcomed by Airlines UK as an important step towards learning to live alongside the virus.

The requirement to take a expensive test was greatly reduced with travellers now only needing to take a rapid test on or before the second day of their stay.

The cost of post-arrival testing is still prohibitive for many families and is hitting bookings, according to the travel industry.

Work from home guidance and vaccine passports are likely to be dropped on January 26 and face masks for public transport could remain in place for the rest of the season.

Maszczynski is a Polish man.

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