SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 10 December 2024, Tuesday |

Vaccinated Brits could be back on Europe’s beaches soon

Britain is working on reducing travel restrictions for fully vaccinated persons to allow them to enjoy a summer vacation on Europe’s beaches, but the plans have not yet been finalized, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Because quarantine and testing requirements are so burdensome and expensive, British citizens are currently basically barred from traveling to most nations, even those in the European Union.

The travel industry has urged that the United Kingdom eliminate its COVID testing and isolation requirements for fully vaccinated tourists, comparable to a European Union plan.

Hancock told Sky News that the government did want to let people have a family holiday, but only when it was safe to do so.

“We’re working on plans to essentially allow the vaccine to bring back some of the freedoms that have had to be restricted to keep people safe,” Hancock told Sky News.

When asked if vaccinated people will be able to travel abroad this year because their liberties will be restored by August, Hancock said the government wants to ensure safety but that he understood people wanted their freedoms back.

“We’ll do it when I’m in a position to announce something more concrete,” he added, “but it’s definitely something we’re working on, and it’s something I want to see.”

Britain has the world’s fifth highest COVID-19 death toll, with approximately 128,000 deaths, but one of the world’s fastest vaccination rollouts, with 80 percent of adults receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and nearly 60 percent receiving a second.

    Source:
  • Reuters