The UK drops quarantine rules for arrivals from major holiday hotspots

As the UK moves forward with plans to end most domestic COVID-19 restrictions on July 19, it will also drop quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated arrivals coming from amber-list countries.

Under new measures announced today, England will no longer require fully vaccinated arrivals from amber or mid-risk countries to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival, beginning on July 19. Instead they will take a PCR test on the second day of their return, in addition to a pre-travel test. The rules apply to those who have recovered from the virus too. Similar measures are expected to be introduced in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Most countries are categorized as amber under the UK's traffic light system, including holiday hotspots like France, Italy, Greece and Spain and mainland Portugal.

The UK's transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that children will also be required to take a PCR test on the second day, and said that unvaccinated and even partially vaccinated travelers will still be required to quarantine for 10 days when returning from an amber country.

There's no change to the rules for arrivals coming from green list countries – destinations where infection rates are low and vaccination rates are high. They're also required to take a PCR before and after travel. Arrivals from red list or high-risk countries will continue to be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine at their own expense. You can see a detailed breakdown of travel rules here.

Fully vaccinated arrivals from Portugal will no longer have to quarantine © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

On July 19, the UK government plans to re-open the nation, dropping almost all COVID-19 rules, despite the ongoing rise in cases due to the Delta variant. While the British Medical Association (BMA)  has called for continued face mask use, the government's mask mandate will be removed, along with social distancing guidelines. Branded as 'Freedom Day', nightclubs will open, gigs and festivals will return, sporting games will be permitted operate at full capacity and life will more or less return to pre-pandemic times.