Travel testing will soon be a thing of the past – ‘removing all Covid tests’

Britons can look forward to a greatly easier half-term holiday. Transport minister Grant Shapps is said to be in favour of ending all testing requirements. While this is good news for holidaymakers, the new rules – or lack thereof – will not be announced straight away. As part of the possible end of Plan B, fully jabbed travellers will no longer need testing. However, only the fully vaccinated will enjoy a return to pre-Covid ease of travel. They will no longer need to undergo testing when travelling. It will also be cheaper for Britons going on holidays. They will no longer need to worry about booking tests and paying for them. The rule change could be announced on January 26, the day the Prime Minister is expected to lift Plan B restrictions. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said “the data is moving in the right direction” for restrictions to end. A source closed to Grant Shapps said: “We are looking at removing all Covid tests for vaccinated travellers by the end of January, which is likely to coincide with the review of the Plan B measures on January 26.” Holidaymakers currently need to take a Day 2 lateral flow test. The Prime Minister already reduced the testing requirements this month. He scrapped the need for a pre-departure test and replace a Day PCR with a lateral flow test. He also removed the need to self-isolate while waiting for test results. The travel industry widely welcomed the move, with Alistair Rowland, Chief Executive for long-haul tour operator, Blue Bay Travel, and Chairman of ABTA saying: “The scrapping of the restrictive travel testing measures imposed by the UK government in December, in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, is a relief for the travel industry and great news for holidaymakers. “The pre-departure test, which has been scrapped in England and Wales, was a major worry for British travellers who feared testing positive on holiday, getting stuck in quarantine abroad and landed with a hefty bill for the privilege. “Ditching the pre-departure test and switching the post-arrival Day 2 PCR tests for cheaper lateral flow tests, which could save families hundreds of pounds in testing fees, will help the travel industry enormously and give customers the confidence to book that well-earned getaway.”