London Stansted and Luton Airport: Red list could be scrapped according to leak

The Government is expected to announce some major changes to the UK red list, perhaps scrapping it altogether.

A leak coming out of the Cop26 climate summit and World Travel Market has indicated that the seven countries currently on the list could be reduced dramatically or removed completely.

The red list would still exist for the purpose of managing new variants of concern but the new changes could allow travellers from red list nations to self-isolate at home rather than paying for a quarantine hotel.

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It was three weeks ago that Grant Shapps and other ministers took the red list from 54 nations to just seven.

Should the move to scrap the red list take place, the UK would then operate in a similar vein to other European countries, easing travel access.

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Those already in quarantine facilities would still be expected to complete their 11 days.

Some industry experts weighed in on the possible changes, with Paul Charles, chief executive of The PC Agency tweeted from the Cop26 saying: “Today a #Budget2021 for a new era of optimism. Tomorrow a new era for travel as hopefully we’ll see the end of the #UK red list and hotel quarantine.

“There is no justification anymore for any countries to be on the red list, especially with no new variants.”

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However, data analyst, Donal Kane sent out a tweet suggesting that with Covid restrictions likely to tighten over the winter months, there will little chance of changes to the list.

He said on Thursday: “Government know the whole thing is stupid at this stage, but it’s also quite popular. Plus at the moment with the opposition piling on the pressure about Covid restrictions for winter I think change is unlikely.

“They likely will not want to appear ‘soft’ by reducing/abolishing the red list this time.”

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https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/london-stansted-luton-airport-red-6123966

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