From 4am on Monday 19th July 2021 there are some further changes to the testing and quarantine rules for those arriving in England. This guide is to help to you to understand the new rules and make sure you do not get caught out.
The Green , Amber and Red List up to date list of of countries can be found on the relevant page of the UK .GOV website.
Green List Arrivals
The Green List arrivals still following the same process as follows:
No quarantine requirements upon arrival in England.
A Covid-19 RT-PCR test on of before Day 2 of their arrival (Day 0 is classed as the date of arrival).
UK Government Passenger Locator Form.
Amber List Arrivals
The Amber List arrivals have got a bit more complicated as follows.
Full vaccinated Amber List Arrivals who have been vaccinated by the UK's NHS and are UK residents who have received the 2nd dose of their Covid-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior to their arrival in England:
No quarantine requirements upon arrival in England.
A Covid-19 RT-PCR test on of before Day 2 of their arrival (Day 0 is classed as the date of arrival).
UK Government Passenger Locator Form.
All other Amber List arrivals who do not meet ALL of the above criteria:
10 day mandatory quarantine at home/hotel/residence.
Day 2 & Day 8 mandatory Covid-19 RT-PCR tests (Day 0 is classed as the date of arrival).
Day 2 test only is mandatory if leaving the England again before Day 8
Optional early release test on Day 5 (Test to Release)
UK Government Passenger Locator Form
Red List Arrivals
The Red List arrivals still following the same process as follows:
10 day mandatory quarantine in UK Government approved hotel facility
Day 2 & Day 8 mandatory Covid-19 RT-PCR test.
UK Government Passenger Locator Form
What about children?
Children under the age of 18 will not have to isolate when returning to England. While the recommendation that people should not travel to amber countries is being removed, children aged 4 and under will continue to be exempt from any travel testing.
Children aged 5 to 10 will only need to do a day 2 PCR and 11 to 18 year olds will need to take both a pre-departure test and a day 2 PCR – as is the case for arrivals from green list countries.
Do I still need a Pre-departure test?
For most countries you still need to take a test within a specific stipulated timeframe (varies from country to country) prior to departing from England. Up to date country specific guidance on this can be found on UK Government website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
What about when I'm abroad before I return to England?
You are still required to a Covid-19 test within 3 days of your departure prior to traveling back to England. This would usually need to be done in the country that you are travelling into England from. Full guidance on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england
At One5 Health, we are a UK Government listed provider for all travel testing for pre-departure and arrival tests in and out of England. We offer in clinic and at home testing options with rapid same day results available.
For our full range of Covid-19 travel testing options please visit: https://www.one5.health/covid-testing-travel-guide
The information is correct as per the UK Government advice on 15th July 2021.
Any relevant updates to follow.