Fully vaccinated passengers, including students from India will no longer have to undergo mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine after arriving in the UK as the country has been moved from red to 'amber'list.
Travelling from amber list countries to the UK requires a 10-day quarantining at home instead of a hotel.
The change will come into effect from August 8, 2021 at 4 a.m., as announced by the Department for Transport.
UK Transport Secretary, The Rt Hon Grant Shapps, tweeted The UAE, Qatar, India and Bahrain will be moved from the red list to the amber list. All changes come into effect Sun 8th August at 4 a.m.
He further said that while it was right to be cautious, opening more destinations would be great news for people waiting to connect with their families, business and friends. He thanked the UKs successful domestic vaccination programme for the same.
Also Read: Many Countries Easing Travel Restrictions for Indian Students: Centre
According to the legal rules for amber list countries, passengers will need to take a COVID-19 test three days before boarding the flight and book two Covid tests in advance, to be taken upon arrival in the UK. Passengers will also have to complete a passenger locator form on arrival.
After arriving in England, one must quarantine at home or in the location they have confirmed for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test on or before the second day and on or after the eighth day.
Those under 18 and fully vaccinated in the UK, European Union or the US shall be exempt from the home quarantine.
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Also, those who are under the UK vaccine abroad, under 18 on the day of arrival in England and resident in the UK or in a country where a vaccination programme is approved by the UK and part of a UK-approved vaccination trail will be exempt from the home quarantine.
The India-manufactured Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield, is likely to be covered under this.
Also Read: UK Government Urged to Expand Quarantine Capacity for Red-List Students
Meanwhile, the UK government has increased the mandatory hotel quarantine costs for solo travellers from August 12, from GBP 1,750 to GBP 2,285.
The charge for another adult sharing a room will go up from GBP 650 to GBP 1,430.
The country has also moved seven countries to the green list - Austria, Slovenia, Latvia, Norway, Germany, Slovakia and Romania. France has been moved from the amber watchlist.
For travellers from green-list countries, they will not be required to quarantine upon arrival in the UK, regardless of their vaccination status. However, they will have to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test and another one after two days of arrival.
Four countries will be added to the red list - Georgia, La Reunion, Mayotte and Mexico.
Source: The Hindu
