Senior ministers have banded together to propose a plan allowing for international travel restrictions to be significantly eased off.
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No more amber list for the fully inoculated
The scheme would involve eliminating the amber list as soon as July 19—the new revised 'freedom day'—for all 31 million Brits (and counting) who have been fully inoculated. With a four week extension to what was suppose to mark phase four of the roadmap out of lockdown, ministers are now looking to use this time to accelerate vaccine rollout in order to include as many people as possible.
From Health Secretary Matt Hancock, to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, many have been adamant about lifting as many restrictions as possible by 19 July at the very latest.
The high vaccine rollout volume coupled with the extended social distancing measures have led many to voice their disapproval to further prolong strict international travel restrictions. One Cabinet source said:
It’s all over, even if not everyone in Government has realised it yet. The link between cases and deaths is broken. We know that double jabs work to protect people so why delay the resumption of international travel? There is no reason not to go ahead now—every day counts.
From Spain to the US
If the plan works, this would mean that popular travel destinations such as, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and even the United States would now become accessible quarantine-free.
Echoing similar sentiments, Tory chairman of the Commons transport committee, Huw Merriman, said that those who are fully vaccinated should be allowed to travel to amber-listed countries immediately:
There’s no reason to hold back or delay until August. The vaccine is effective and the NHS app provides proof for the millions who have received it. The industry has been working for months to make this vaccine dividend operational.
And added:
We now look to the Government to give the green light and let the industry crack on with making it work.
