Oman is among eight countries which will be taken off the United Kingdom’s red list from September 22.
In a huge overhaul of the international travel system announced by the UK government on Friday, the new system announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will see the current system of restrictions abolished and new regulations introduced from October.
The eight countries removed from the current red list from 4 am on Wednesday, September 22, in addition to the Sultanate, are Turkey, Pakistan, the Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya.
In a series of tweets, Shapps said that the green and amber lists would be scrapped and replaced with a single red list of countries.
According to the Transport Secretary, the changes are meant “to simplify international travel in order to reduce costs, take advantage of higher levels of vaccination and keep us all safe.” From October 4, there will be a single red list of countries from where travellers to England must stay in a government-supervised hotel.
People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need a pre-departure test before returning from non-red list destinations, and from later in the month will be able to replace the day two PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow test.
“We’re making testing easier for travel from Monday, October 4, if you’re fully vaccinated you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in October, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow.”
The current traffic light system will be replaced by a single ‘red list’ of countries and territories. Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when travelling to England from 4 am of October 4.
“Today’s changes mean a simpler, more straightforward system. One with less testing and lower costs, allowing more people to travel, see loved ones or conduct business around the world while providing a boost for the travel industry,” Shapps said of the new two-tier system to be launched in October.
From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their post-arrival day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England.
Anyone testing positive will still need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.
“Public health has always been at the heart of our international travel policy and with more than 8 in 10 adults vaccinated in the UK, we are now able to introduce a proportionate updated structure that reflects the new landscape,” he said.
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