Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirms that the NHS app will become the vaccine passport for Britons travelling abroad. We should soon also find out which countries we can enjoy quarantine free this summer.
Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions, the earliest date to resume international travel for holidays is 17 May.
Plans are for the introduction of a “traffic light” system to categorise different destinations based on risk.
Mr Shapps revealed he will give details on which countries made the green list “in the next couple of weeks”. These are destinations where people will be able to travel without the need to quarantine. Although they will still need to take a Covid test before departure and on arrival to the UK.
He is still awaiting data before deciding on the classifications of each country to be green, amber or red.
The NHS app will allow people to show if they had a Covid jab, or tested negative for the virus, before travelling. The app is used to book appointments with the NHS so will have information on vaccinations and tests.
Mr Shapps says that he is working with partners across the world to ensure system can be internationally recognised.
To clarify, the app will not be the current test and trace app that tracks people’s check-ins. Instead it will be the NHS app used to book general appointments.
Cautious over travelling abroad
Britons should still be very cautious about being able to freely travel abroad again. Other countries are seeing high levels of coronavirus at the moment. Steps have to be taken carefully so we don’t throw away the sacrifices and good progress made from lockdown and vaccination rollout in this country.
The government will monitor vaccination rates, infection levels, coronavirus variants, and the accuracy of a country’s Covid reporting. This will help them decide how to categorise foreign destinations.
A number of European countries have already said they are hoping to welcome tourists this summer, including Portugal and Spain.
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