The UK government is all set to remove all seven of the remaining destinations on the travel UK travel red list.
This comes after new reports indicate that the threat from the virus is no longer at its peak.
Ministers were expected to meet on Thursday to consider removing the rest of the countries from the UK travel red list. Thereby also removing the need to quarantine in a hotel when arriving from countries overseas.
Here are the seven red list countries currently on the UK’s travel red list:
- Colombia
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Haiti
- Panama
- Peru
- Venezuela
Arrivals from the above countries are currently required to self-isolate for ten days in a hotel at the cost of £2,285 per person.
However, this does not mean that the UK’s travel red list will be completely taken off the grid. According to several outlets, ministers are planning to use the UK travel red list as a ‘lever’ in the future in the case of another deadly variant entering the country.
However, a Downing Street spokesman said on Thursday that there were no plans to scrap the red list system.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said there was “no justification now for any country to be on a red list or for hotel quarantine to be in existence.”
He said: “There have been no new variants of concern since May, and countries are now learning that blanket border measures, such as blocking whole countries, don’t work.”
“The best approach is to check for an individual’s vaccine status and ensure they are up to date if they want to travel without restrictions.”
“It’s encouraging that the UK Government have finally cottoned on to this”
“The current seven countries on the red list, such as Panama and Colombia, will be delighted if they are taken off it later today.”
What are your thoughts on the removal of countries from the UK travel red list? Does it make a change in your travel plans?
Let us know in the comments below!
