Mandatory face coverings in public places and Covid passports for large venues are to be dropped from next week as Plan B measures in England are scrapped. However, the travel industry is yet to receive guidance on whether the testing regime for fully vaccinated arrivals in the UK will be eased.
An announcement on easing Covid travel rules is expected by the Heath Secretary in the coming days.
Those in the travel industry are hoping for confirmation that the ‘Day 2’ antigen test requirement for arrivals to England will be removed, at least for those that are fully vaccinated or under the age of 18.
Ahead of the impending announcement, the government has also stressed the importance of people getting a booster jab if they want to travel abroad this summer. It is possible that measures may be put in place that require travellers to have had both Covid-19 vaccines plus a booster jab in order to travel without restrictions.
However, with Covid-19 infection rates falling – and the Omicron variant confirmed as a milder strain of the virus – the future of travel is finally looking promising.
That being said, while Covid rates decrease and restrictions are eased in parts of the UK, this does not necessarily mean that other countries are in a position to do the same. Therefore, Covid-19 vaccine status proof, PCR or antigen test results, masks, and Covid-19 passes may still be required to enter certain countries and access venues in these destinations.
Remember, failure to arrive at a destination without the correct documentation is not something a travel insurance provider will cover. Anyone found in this situation will be responsible for covering the cost of a new flight, accommodation, and/or emergency documentation.
For this reason, it is essential that holidaymakers continue to monitor the entry requirements and any local restrictions for the country they plan to visit. Travellers can keep up-to-date with the latest travel guidance for their intended destination on the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) website.
As always, we’re here to help with all things travel-insurance-related. So, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at hello@travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, and our team will do their very best to assist!
