Eight countries have been removed from the UK’s red travel list from 4am this morning, meaning unvaccinated travellers will be able to quarantine at home instead of in a hotel.
Bangladesh, Egypt, Kenya, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Turkey have all been moved to the amber list as the changes come into force from September 22.
The countries were moved to the medium-risk category following the government's latest review into travel restrictions revealed on September 17.
Current rules for the amber list state that all travellers must take a Covid-19 test three days before their return to England.
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For those who are fully vaccinated, a coronavirus test must be carried out on or before day two after arrival in England.
Holidaymakers who are not fully vaccinated need to quarantine at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days, take a Covid-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight.
There is the option of paying privately for a coronavirus test as part of the Test to Release scheme.
The changes come as the government announced an overhaul of the traffic light system on Friday, which will see the red, amber and green lists replaced with a single red list of countries continuing to pose a coronavirus risk, and a second list for the rest of the world.
The new system will come into effect from October 4, along with updated testing and quarantining rules for passengers.
Under the updated rules, fully vaccinated passengers will not have to take a Covid test before their return to England from a non-red country.
Then later in October, the Government is aiming to scrap the day two PCR test, replacing it with a lateral flow test instead.
Unvaccinated passengers will still be required to take a pre-departure test, followed by tests on days two and eight after arrival in England, along with quarantining at home. There is also the option of the test to release scheme.
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