Covid-19: Arrivals in England to be able to cut quarantine if they pay for test

People arriving in England will be soon able to reduce their quarantine period by more than half if they pay for a Covid test after five days, the transport secretary has announced.

The rules will come into force from 15 December and the tests from private firms will cost between £65 and £120.

Grant Shapps said the scheme would "bolster international travel while keeping the public safe".

The travel industry welcomed the policy but described it as "long overdue".

It follows Boris Johnson's announcement earlier that England will come under "toughened" three-tiered regional restrictions when the lockdown ends on 2 December.

Under the new travel rules, passengers who arrive from a destination not on the government's travel corridors list will still need to enter self-isolation.

However, if they pay for a test after five days and it comes back negative, they will no longer need to self-isolate.

Results will normally be issued in 24 to 48 hours. This means people could be released from quarantine six days after arrival.

Shapps said: "Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see loved ones and drive international business. By giving people the choice to test on day five, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild out of the pandemic."

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said the announcement provided "light at the end of the tunnel" for the aviation industry and people wanting to go on holiday.

He predicted demand for air travel will "tentatively return" following the decision but said a pre-departure testing regime that can completely remove the need to self-isolate is "the only way we're going to comprehensively reopen the market".

On Monday, the prime minister - who is self-isolating after meeting an MP who later tested positive for Covid-19 - told the House of Commons via a video link that he expected "more regions will fall - at least temporarily - into higher levels than before". Regions will not find out which tier they are in until Thursday.

Describing how the tiers had become stricter, Johnson said that in tier one, people should continue to work from home where possible, while in tier two, only pubs serving substantial meals can serve alcohol. In tier three, hospitality will close except for delivery and takeaway, and indoor entertainment venues must also close.

However, gyms and non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen when the lockdown ends, and spectators will be allowed to return to some sporting events. Weddings and collective worship will also resume.

(Source: BBC)