This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
On July 3, 2020, the UK government announced a significant change to its quarantine policy, allowing travelers from over 50 countries to enter England without self-isolating.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps hailed the move as a major step towards reopening the nation, saying it would lead to the 'reopening of the nation.'
Under the new rules, a traffic-light system will be used to categorize countries based on their COVID-19 prevalence. Green countries, such as New Zealand, will have no self-isolation requirements, while amber countries, including France and Italy, will have reciprocal arrangements in place.
However, countries with high COVID-19 rates, like the US and Greece, will be designated as red and require 14 days of self-isolation.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's father, Stanley, sparked controversy by flying to his Greek holiday home via Bulgaria to avoid the restrictions, but Johnson refused to comment on the trip.
Airlines Cheer ¶
The government's decision has been welcomed by the aviation industry, with EasyJet describing it as an 'important move in the reopening of aviation.'
Virgin Atlantic and VisitBritain also expressed support for the new policy, with Virgin Atlantic saying it was 'continually reviewing our flying programme' and VisitBritain Director Patricia Yates stating that it would provide a 'timely boost' to the tourism industry.
