These travel color codes will determine your travel fate to and from England
The UK’s estimated population is approximately 68 million as at the time of writing this article and based on data from Worldometer. It has done incredibly well as one of the countries that have taken the fight against Covid-19 seriously.
Based on the UK Government’s statistics, approximately 35.19 million and 17.21 million people have received their first dose and second dose of Covid-19 vaccination respectively. This means a total of 52.4 million vaccination has been given. Although 75% of the population still require both the first and second vaccine dose, this is still impressive compared to other countries.
The government’s data is quite comprehensive and you can even view the daily vaccination numbers if you’re interested in specific information or the progress of the UK’s vaccination program.
With all the insights above, it’s not surprising that for some time now, England and all other parts of the UK have been grouping countries into different risk categories. The grouping is often based on the rising cases of coronavirus and the number of deaths in other countries.
At the moment, as a British resident, it’s advisable to check the list of countries that you can visit before your trip out of England. Otherwise, you might be subjected to quarantine and not many people love the discomfort associated with it.
Also, the duration of days you stayed in a foreign country could determine how fast you’re granted entry without the need for quarantine especially if you’re a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK. Where you’ve been in the last 10 days before your arrival in England will determine what you must do.
Based on the the level of risk, there are currently three groups which a country can fall into, and they are the Red, Amber and Green. Those countries or territories that are on the red list poses significant threat to the progress already made by the UK in fighting Covid-19.
Uncontrolled entry of people from those places on the Red list could lead to rise in the number of new cases in the UK considering the fact that 75% of the population still require both the first and second dose of the vaccine.
There are about 40 countries/territories on the red list, and for those planning to visit India, UAE, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, and Seychelles, this isn’t the right time. Before you travel back to England as a British or Irish National, or as someone with residence rights in the UK, these are the list of things you must take into consideration: complete a passenger locator form, take a COVID-19 test, book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests. On arrival in England, you must also quarantine in a managed hotel, including 2 COVID-19 tests.
There are more than 170 countries — Australia, New Zealand, USA, Norway, Portugal, Nigeria, Singapore, Russia, etc. — on the Amber list. According to the government; ‘If a country or territory is not on this list, you should not assume that it is a green or red list country or territory. Countries and territories are only green or red if they appear on the Green or Red list’.
Also, some countries on the Amber list will move to the Red list by May 12 by 4am, while there are others that will be upgraded to the Green list on May 17 by 4am. It’s advisable to move out of those countries or territories that will be downgraded to the Red list in order not to be caught up in the strict restriction rules.
Nepal, Maldives, and Turkey will move to red list on Wednesday May 12 by 4am from the initial Amber rating. Also, 12 countries/territories — Brunei, Portugal, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Israel and Jerusalem, Iceland, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha — will be upgraded from Amber to Green on May 17 by 4am.
For those that travelled to countries/territories rated as Amber, before you travel back to England, you are expected to complete a passenger locator form, take a COVID-19 test, book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests — to be taken after arrival in England. On arrival in England you have no other choice than to quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days, and also take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8.
If you’ve been planning to travel to one of those countries/territories that will be on the Green list in 9 days time (Monday, May 17), this should be a great news because you wouldn’t need to quarantine on your arrival back in England. According to the government; before you travel to England you must complete a passenger locator form, take a COVID-19 test, book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test.
Also, on arrival in England from a Green-rated countries/territories, you must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive, there’s no need to quarantine unless the test result is positive. If the NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, then you must self-isolate.
For more guidance on how Covid-19 might affect your travel plans, please click HERE.
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