OFFICIAL: No quarantine for vaccinated British tourists from amber list countries from July 19th

The UK Minister of Transport, Grant Shapps, has officially announced this morning that fully vaccinated adults and children under the age of 18 will no longer have to quarantine on their return to England from amber list countries from July 19^th.

Making a statement on international travel in the Commons, he said those who have received two jabs will no longer have to self-isolate for 10 days after their return to the UK, but will still have to take a PCR test on their second day back.

"I can confirm today that from July 19th, UK residents who are fully vaccinated through the UK vaccine rollout will no longer have to self-isolate when they return to England," Shapps said. He also confirmed the government's guidance that people should not travel to amber list countries will be lifted on the same date, meaning hopeful holidaymakers can travel for leisure purposes and to see family members.

"They will still be required to take a test three days before returning, the pre-departure test, demonstrating they're negative before they travel, and a PCR test on or before day two, but they will no longer be required to take a day eight test. Children under 18 must also take PCR tests on their second day back."

The transport secretary also clarified that fully vaccinated means "14 days have passed since your final dose of the vaccine", and that the rules may differ across the different UK nations as health matters are devolved.

This means for UK residents that have been vaccinated in the UK, that the requirements for travel from green and amber list countries are the same. Arrivals from red list countries are still required to quarantine in a government-approved hotel.

At the moment it is unclear whether ex-pats who live abroad and have been vaccinated in their country of residence (not the UK), will still have to undergo quarantine and day 2 and 8 tests or not, until further announcements and agreements with the EU.