Coronavirus: Grant Shapps confirms ‘air corridors' so Brits can holiday abroad without 14-day quarantine
Grant Shapps could not give a date for when holidays abroad will resume (PA)
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Brits will be able to go on holiday abroad this summer after Grant Shapps confirmed the creation of “air corridors” to avoid the 14-day coronavirus quarantine period.
The transport secretary said the Government will "shortly begin to ease the health measures at the UK border”, which will allow passengers to be "exempted from self-isolation requirements”.
But he was unable to say which countries will be approved for travel, or give a date on when holidays can re-start.
In a statement to Parliament, he defended the controversial two-week self-isolation policy, saying it had “contributed to keeping the number of COVID-19 transmissions in the UK as low as possible” and prevents a second wave of the virus.
“Today I can confirm that the Government will shortly begin to ease the health measures at the UK border, allowing passengers to be exempted from self-isolation requirements in certain circumstances on arrival in the UK,” Mr Shapps said.
“This will apply to international rail, maritime, and aviation.”
There will be a traffic light system for deciding which countries will be exempt from quarantine, decided by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Public Health England and the Chief Medical Officer based on their relative levels of disease.
The Cabinet minister said “a full list of the countries and territories from which arriving passengers will be exempted from self-isolation requirements later this week”.
And he confirmed full details of when people can set off on vacation will be announced in a few days once the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has finished reviewing its travel advice.
Mr Shapps added: “Throughout this process, public safety has been at the heart of our decision making.
“We have been guided by the science and worked closely with health and policy experts from across government to ensure the steps we are taking are gradual and will minimise the risk of new Covid-19 cases while helping to open our travel and tourism sector."
