England changes COVID rules; Scraps quarantine for vaccinated EU, US travellers

UK PM’s unequivocal arguments signalled the end within three weeks of the “pingdemic” which has caused havoc for so many businesses, public services and households across the country.

At the moment hundreds of thousands of people are isolating for up to 10 days after coming into contact with someone who has caught Covid.

However, the rules will not change for at least another two weeks.

But “critical workers” will now be exempt - from NHS staff, railway signallers and air traffic controllers to workers at 500 food sites.

Boris Johnson still appealed for a “lot of caution” amid rising hopes that the UK appears to be heading towards the pandemic being largely over within a few months.

His comments came hours after official figures showed the number of coronavirus patients in London’s hospitals has risen above 1,000.

On the other hand, England has reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and US.

All people travelling from the EU or the US who have been fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine upon arrival in England, Transport Minister Grant Shapps announced Wednesday.

The plan will come into effect on August 2.

It will scrap requirements for those entering the country who have been vaccinated outside the UK to self-isolate for 10 days.

It only applies to people arriving from the UK's "amber" listed countries where there is a moderate rate of COVID-19 infections.

It would mean double-jabbed people from these countries would be able to enter the country without having to subsequently quarantine for 10 days.

The plans were set to be discussed, and potentially ratified, at a meeting of senior ministers.