'High-value' business travellers, journalists, and other professions are to be exempt from the travel quarantine rule when they return to England, Grant Shapps has announced.
Currently, anyone arriving from a country not on the government's travel corridor list must isolate by law for 14 days.
This period can be shortened to five days by paying a cost of between £65 and £120 for a private test, if the result is negative.
While there are already some roles exempt, including Eurotunnel workers and those on diplomatic missions, the transport secretary confirmed on Thursday that other individuals will also be exempt from December 5.
On announcing the change, Mr Shapps tweeted: "New Business Traveller exemption: From 4am on Sat 5th Dec high-value business travellers will no longer need to self-isolate when returning to ENGLAND from a country NOT in a travel corridor, allowing more travel to support the economy and jobs. Conditions apply.
"From 4am on Sat 5th Dec certain performing arts professionals, TV production staff, journalists, and recently signed elite sportspersons, will also be exempt, subject to specific criteria being met – guidance will be available on http://gov.uk soon".
A statement from the Department of Transport confirming the announcement explained: "Individuals undertaking specific business activity which would deliver a significant benefit to the UK economy – including activity that creates or preserves 50+ UK jobs – will no longer need to self-isolate when travelling or returning from non-exempt countries."
They said individuals will only be exempt when "undertaking the specific business activity" and will "only be able to meet with others as required by that specific activity."
On the exemptions for domestic and international performing arts professionals, TV production staff, journalists, and recently signed elite sportspersons, the statement added that it is to ensure "industries which require specific, high talent individuals who rely on international connections can continue to complete their work."
Mr Shapps clarified the rule applied to England only, however it is unclear whether this will be extended to other parts of the UK.
He also confirmed that no changes were made to the travel corridor list this week.
All travellers, including those from exempt destinations, will still be required to show a complete passenger locator form on arrival into the UK unless they fall into a group of exemptions.
Penalties for those breaching the self-isolation rules when returning from non-exempt countries have increased from £1,000 for first offences up to £10,000 for subsequent offences, mirroring penalties for those breaching self-isolation following a positive Covid test or contact from Test and Trace.
A full list of jobs already exempt can be found on gov.uk here. Further information will be available on gov.uk when the new exemptions come into force on Saturday.
