Travel quarantine could be halved with tests after a week by December, Grant Shapps reveals

Quarantine for travellers coming to the UK will be slashed in half by December, handing hopes for holidays over the Christmas break.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told airline bosses that ministers had agreed passengers will only have to self-isolate for seven days under their new “test and release” scheme - rather than 14 under the current rules.

The cost would have to be paid by the passenger – and the tests will be have to be provided privately rather than putting extra pressure on the NHS.

It comes after a summer of rows between ministers and the travel industry after the Government slapped 14-day quarantine periods on people coming back from dozens of countries - putting people off going away.

Mr Shapps said today: "My ministerial colleagues and I have agreed a regime, based on a single test provided by the private sector and at the cost to the passenger, after a period of self-isolation and doing those things could achieve our objectives.

"The next step is to develop how this approach can be implemented."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/12964979/new-test-and-release-scheme-will-cut-travel-quarantine/

HELP US SPREAD GOOD NEWS!

I run this site in my spare time and thoroughly enjoy giving you all positive news!  If you've enjoyed the site we'd love for you to help me share the good news far and wide, share us on Reddit, your Facebook or your Twitter and spread a little positivity around.

ENJOY FEEL GOOD, INSPIRING STORIES AND VIDEOS ?

Our new page here is just what you need, with just good news, feel good stories unrelated to COVID.