The British government said Monday that it will lift the COVID-19 testing requirement for fully vaccinated people arriving in England.
State of play: Those who are not fully vaccinated "will only need to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after arriving in England," British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted.
- Currently, travelers are required to get tested two days before departing to England. Those requirements will stay in place until Feb. 11.
What they're saying: "Making the right calls at the right time on vaccines and boosters means we now have one of the most open travel sectors in the world," Shapps said.
- "Scaling back restrictions before half term means a simpler [travel] experience for passengers, especially the fully vaccinated, and stability for the sector throughout 2022," he added.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that removing the testing requirement for the vaccinated will "show that this country is open for business, open for travelers," per AP.