Transport Sec Confirms End To Entry COVID Tests From 11 Feb

Speaking in the House of Commons, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that from 11 February, individuals who have had at least two COVID vaccine doses will not need to take a COVID test to enter the country.

• Non-vaccinated will not have to take Day 8 tests or self-isolate, but will need to present negative PCR test on arrival.
• All children under 18 will not be subjected to tests and will be treated as fully vaccinated.
• Latika Bourke at the Sydney Morning Herald tweets on Shapps' statement: "Govt wants to eventually end hotel quarantine and replace with it enforced home isolation. No country currently on red list. Shapps says that the only way a county is going back on the red list is if there is a variant more worrying that Omicron. And in a big win for aviation sector, Shapps is promising no more blanket border bans but more sophisticated approach. ...Shapps 'we already have one of the most open societies, with these changes today we have one of the most open travel sectors in the world ... everyone should now feel confident about booking ... trips. It's only b/c govt got the big calls right...We can now declare that Britain is open for business, today we set Britain free."