Good news! It looks like there might be hope for December travel after all. According to various sources, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will reportedly announce a slash in the current UK quarantine restrictions in time for holiday travel. The new plan will see to it that travel quarantine is cut to just five days next week to get Britain flying again.
The currently employed UK quarantine restrictions will come to an end on the 2nd of December 2020. After which, the new plan will be implemented in favour of holiday travel.
Under this new rule, travellers will have to self-isolate for just five days before they are tested. If the result comes back negative, they will be released from quarantine immediately. The plan is set to be introduced next month under a “test and release scheme”. Fast-turnaround tests, which produce results within an hour, will be used to aid the motive of this plan.
The newly approved decision to slash UK quarantine will help several travellers visit their relatives. Holiday travel has been subjected to uncertainty for the past few weeks. However, things seem to be turning out comparatively better than what the general public had in mind.
The latest set of UK quarantine restrictions imposed by the government also had an unfavourable effect on the travel industry.
Last night, a Whitehall source said: ‘We are keen to get people flying again when it is safe to do so, and the Prime Minister is particularly concerned about the impact we have seen on business travel’.
‘Cutting the quarantine time from 14 days to five has the potential to make a huge difference.’
Tests will have to be paid for privately by passengers. A conventional swab test can cost more than £100 if bought personally, but prices for the new quick tests are expected to fall to as little as £5 next year as production is ramped up.
But we want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on the decision to slash the UK quarantine restrictions over holiday travel? Do you think it’s an empathetic move designed to help citizens reach their loved ones or a plan that might worsen the current situation? Also, let us know whether you are excited about holiday travel or would rather the current UK quarantine restrictions last longer?
Leave all your comments below, and we’ll reply!
