Vaccinated travellers will soon be allowed to return to the UK without taking a Covid test, according to reports.
The Sunday Times reports that Grant Shapps will scrap the arrival tests in time for the half-term holiday in February.
The Transport Secretary is said to be in favour of ending the current testing regime.
Travellers will have to be fully vaccinated, which is currently two jabs for adults although boosters are still recommended.
An announcement has been pencilled in for January 26, according to The Sunday Times, which will also be when Boris Johnson will lift plan B restrictions such as working-from-home guidance.
At present vaccinated travellers must take a lateral flow test two days after they return to Britain. Anyone who tests positive must isolate for ten days, although this can be cut short with a negative lateral flow test on days six and seven.
source close to Shapps is said to have told The Sunday Times: "We are looking at removing all Covid tests fo rvaccinated travellers by the end of January, which is likely to coincide with the review of the plan B measures onJanuary 26.”
The change will be welcome news for the tourism industry: January is typically the busiest period for summer holiday bookings.
Covid cases in the UK are plummeting, down 33% week-on-week however deaths remain high and hospitalisations are flat (although both of those statistics tend to lag behind cases).
There is optimism that the UK is through the worst of the pandemic however pressure remains very high on dozens of hospitals.
Boris Johnson is clinging to his premiership after weeks of revelations about parties in Downing Street during various stages of Covid lockdowns.
