Covid travel testing ended for vaccinated from mid-February
January 26, 2022
As someone who has robustly campaigned for a safe return to normal international travel arrangements, I warmly welcome the announcement that from 11th February fully vaccinated people returning to this country will no longer have to take a lateral flow test after arrival.
This comes into effect just in time for the half-term holidays, and will assist York families by reducing the hassle and cost of arranging travel. Additionally, it will be a relief to the many local travel businesses who have been hard hit by covid restrictions, whom I have also been working on behalf of.
I am also glad to see the passenger locator form is being made simpler to complete, with families also given an additional day to complete it. From 3rd February, 12-15 year olds will now be able to evidence their vaccination status through a new digital NHS pass for outbound journeys, allowing entry to destinations where this is also a requirement for children.
It is reassuring that careful monitoring of covid threats overseas is continuing alongside this liberalisation, so that normal travel can resume safely, with our national Health Security Agency maintaining effective surveillance of infections abroad.
The end of testing is another example of the UK’s vaccine and booster success delivering concrete benefits in terms of a return to freedom and conventional family routines. It is good to see the government continuing to move in the right direction on covid.
