The United Kingdom will introduce the "traffic light" system in the classification of countries, starting with May 17

The British government has revealed more details about the "traffic light" system it intends to implement as the tourism industry reopens.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps explained that the scheme will classify countries according to risk. Factors that include the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated against Covid-19, the rate of infection, the prevalence of variants of concern and access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing will be considered, officials said.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the system could be implemented as of May 17, although no firm date has been set for the reopening of the tourism sector. A report released today by Global Travel Taskforce includes plans to remove the travel permit form - introduced in March - which means passengers would no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country.

A decision is expected in early May on which countries will be added to the lists and whether it will be possible to travel for tourism.

The traffic light system will be divided into three categories:

• Verde: Travelers entering the UK from the Green Zone will be required to take a pre-trip test as well as a PCR test on the first or second day after arrival in the UK, but will not have to be quarantined (with unless they receive a positive result).
• Yellow: Travelers entering the UK from the yellow zone will have to take a test before traveling, be quarantined at home for 10 days in the UK and will have to take 2 PCR tests on the second day and the next day eighth to be able to get out of quarantine.
• Red: travelers entering the UK from the red zone will have to take a test before traveling, will have to stay in quarantine for 10 days in a British government-approved hotel and take two more tests while in caranin, on the second day and on the eighth day.

Passenger testing will also play a key role in the summer season

The government has said that testing remains an essential part of protecting public health as restrictions begin to be lifted. Travelers entering the UK will not be exempt and will have to take a test before the trip, plus two more after arriving in the UK on the second and 8th day.

Officials added that it is too early to predict which countries will be on the red list during the summer, and the government continues to consider a number of factors. The restrictions will be formally reviewed on June 28 depending on how the pandemic will evolve or involve, domestically and internationally and to see if the current measures could be lifted.

Other official checks will take place at checkpoints by 31 July and 1 October at the latest.

The government has also announced plans to digitize the passenger location form, integrating it into the UK border system and making checks much easier. It is possible that in the near future special measures will be announced for those vaccinated and immunized following COVID-19 infection.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will also be given additional enforcement powers to act on airlines that have infringed consumer rights, on how to use the additional tools to enforce consumer rights.

We will come back with information as soon as these are announced on official government channels.