Transport secretary Grant Shapps has pledged the government won’t implement emergency border measures in response to new Covid variants “unless in extreme circumstances”.
After the prime minister announced the axing of domestic restrictions as part of the government’s ‘Living with Covid’ plan, Shapps said on Twitter: “Now we’ve got on top of Omicron it’s time to #livewithcovid.
“I understand the huge personal and economic costs of border measures.
“So we won’t implement emergency measures in response to new Covid variants unless in extreme circumstances.”
He went on to say: “The Feb 11 relaxation of travel rules was a huge boost for all. We’re now preparing to stand down our quarantine hotels, have simplified the passenger locator form & will go further, and have a toolkit of proportionate measures we can deploy to tackle new threats.
“We’ll set out our contingency approach and international travel toolkit in more detail before Easter.
“It forms part of the Government’s new Living with Covid plan, putting us on solid ground as we return to normality.”
Now we’ve got on top of Omicron it’s time to #livewithcovid.
I understand the huge personal and economic costs of border measures.
So we won’t implement emergency measures in response to new COVID variants unless in extreme circumstances.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) February 21, 2022
More details were in the government’s plan for ‘Living with Covid-19’ document, which said: “Given the current state of the pandemic and a move towards global travel volumes returning to normal, the infrastructure for hotel quarantine will be fully stood down from the end of March and the government is developing options to increase compliance with home isolation in its place should quarantine measures need to be reintroduced.
“Previous global responses to variants of Covid-19 that targeted travel from specific countries may not always be appropriate given how quickly the virus can spread, and tailoring measures to the nature of the threat can improve their effectiveness and proportionality.
“As such, the government will have in reserve a more agile toolbox tailored depending on the nature and source of the threat, and deployed only where that high bar is crossed.
“The default will be to first consider whether less stringent measures are appropriate so as to minimise the impact on general travel where possible.”
The government will set out the toolbox of measures in more detail ahead of Easter and will continue to work with industry on contingency planning.
More: Covid passports for international travel to remain in place
Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, commented: “A possible review of the remaining Covid travel restrictions by Easter would be welcome news for those looking to get away this spring.
“However, Easter is one of the busiest holiday seasons for UK travellers. The government must complete and communicate any travel changes well ahead of the Easter period to ensure holidaymakers can plan ahead and avoid any last-minute confusion.”
The prime minister made no mention of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) during his statement in the House of Commons, but later responded to a question to say he “understood the grievance over it” and to confirm it would be “reviewed by Easter”.
Shapps has reportedly been pushing to remove the PLF in time for the Easter holidays.
Covid passports will remain on the NHS app for international travel despite the end of their use domestically in England, the prime minister confirmed.
The Feb 11 relaxation of travel rules was a huge boost for all.
We’re now preparing to stand down our quarantine hotels, have simplified the passenger locator form & will go further, and have a toolkit of proportionate measures we can deploy to tackle new threats.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) February 21, 2022