People who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 who travel from Portugal are no longer required to submit tests to Covid-19 to enter England, but the simplified system leaves out African and South American countries.
The new system replaced the old model that classified countries with traffic light colors according to the degree of risk, although the British government maintains a red list that includes Angola and Mozambique.
“Our priority remains the protection of public health, but with more than eight out of 10 people now fully vaccinated, we can take these steps to reduce the cost of testing and help the [aviation] industry continue its recovery. » said British Transport Minister Grant Shapps.
As of today, October 4th, people with full vaccinations, as well as accompanying persons under 18 years old, are exempt from testing before traveling and, in the case of countries on the previous “yellow list”, from an eight-day PCR test upon arrival in England or 10 days quarantine.
All travelers, except children under the age of five, are still obligated to pay for a PCR test within the first 48 hours of arrival, which should become a cheaper antigen test before the end of the month.
This model favors countries with vaccines recognized by British health authorities, namely those approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), British overseas territories, and others such as the United States, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
However, countries like Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and Equatorial Guinea, which were previously on the “yellow list”, do not benefit because their anti-Covid-19 vaccines are not recognized by the UK.
The same happens with India, which on Friday decided to retaliate by ordering that British citizens arriving in the country undergo Covid-19 tests and a mandatory 10-day quarantine.
New Delhi has expressed outrage against London because, although the AstraZeneca vaccine is recognized by the UK, the version produced by the Serum Institute of India has been excluded.
Thus, travelers from these countries, as well as those who are not vaccinated or partially vaccinated, continue to be subject to the previous rules, namely to present pre-departure tests and on the second and eighth day.
Meanwhile, Angola, Mozambique, Brazil and Cape Verde remain on London's "red list", so travelers arriving from those countries or having stopped there are required to comply with a 10-day quarantine at a designated hotel in England at a cost of 2.285 pounds (2.672 euros), plus tests on the second and eighth days.
The British press has reported in recent weeks that the British Government intends to reduce this list, which currently has 54 countries, but no date has been given.
The changes only apply to England, as the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are determined by the respective autonomous regional governments, although they have so far remained broadly aligned.
Comments