UK Considers Introducing 'Traffic Light' System for Overseas Travel... Quarantine Exemptions for 'Green Light'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (center) is wearing protective clothing and receiving a briefing during a visit to AstraZeneca's facility in Macclesfield on the 6th (local time). [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The UK government has expressed a positive stance on overseas travel. It is known that the UK government is planning to introduce a 'traffic light system' that exempts self-quarantine for green-listed countries while maintaining mandatory hotel quarantine for red-listed countries.

Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, said in a BBC Radio interview on the 9th (local time) that people can consider booking overseas trips for this summer.

According to the UK's lockdown easing roadmap, overseas travel may be possible as early as the 17th of next month. However, the UK government has emphasized that it is still too early to make reservations, and the exact date has not yet been confirmed.

The UK plans to implement a kind of traffic light system when allowing overseas travel. Green-listed countries will be exempt from quarantine. However, testing before departure and upon return to the UK will be mandatory.

Yellow-listed countries require 10 days of self-quarantine, a test before departure, and two PCR tests after returning. Red-listed countries prohibit entry for foreigners, and UK nationals must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days.

The countries in each category will be announced in early next month, considering factors such as infection rates, vaccination rates, and variant concerns. Israel, the United States, and some Caribbean countries are expected to be classified as green-listed, while quarantine exemption for yellow-listed countries such as Spain and Greece will be reviewed by the end of June.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.