Travel industry hopes are dashed as Boris Johnson FAILS to lift quarantine rule

Travel industry hopes are dashed as Boris Johnson FAILS to lift quarantine rule
Travel industry hopes are dashed as Boris Johnson FAILS to lift quarantine rule

Holidaymakers hoping for a summer break had their hopes put on hold by Boris Johnson tonight - after he failed to lift quarantine rules for double-jabbed tourists.

The Prime Minister had been widely expected to announce fully vaccinated Britons would be able to visit amber countries without isolating on their return.

But the rule change never came with jabbed families fretting over whether their summer holiday dreams would ever be realised.

The disappointment was tempered by the PM promising it was working towards making this happen.

He told the Downing Street press conference: 'We will maintain our tough border controls including the red list and recognising the protection afforded by two doses of vaccine, we will work with the travel industry for removing the need for fully vaccinated arrivals to isolate on return from an amber country and the Transport Secretary will provide a further update later this week.' 

An industry insider add to MailOnline: 'That Boris hasn't announced anything today will come as a blow to holidaymakers. 

The Prime Minister had been widely expected to announce new fully vaccinated Britons rules

The Prime Minister had been widely expected to announce new fully vaccinated Britons rules

It was hoped double-jabbed people could return from amber countries without quarantine

It was hoped double-jabbed people could return from amber countries without quarantine

'But the government is determined to make this happen so the message is watch this space.' 

The new measures would allow fully vaccinated tourists and their families to visit countries such as Spain and Greece without having to quarantine on return. 

One issue to iron out is whether children would also be exempt from quarantine under the new amber rules, given that under-18s are not yet being vaccinated.

Treating them the same as fully vaccinated adults would unlock holidays to major hotspots for millions of families. 

The announcement by Boris Johnson appeared to be light on detail and had some holes in it

The announcement by Boris Johnson appeared to be light on detail and had some holes in it

What should happen from July 19 'Freedom Day'? 

No legal limits on social contact, all remaining businesses to open, one metre plus rule dropped. 

Masks will no longer be legally required, but guidance will recommend them in some circumstances.

Advice to work from home where possible will be dropped, with individual firms able to decide the pace and level of return to offices. 

No legal requirement for use of 'Covid certificates' at bars and restaurants etc.

The PM intends to remove self-isolation rules for double jabbed, but it remains a legal requirement for now and more details in due course

Grant Shapps is working with the travel industry on 'amber list' quarantine rules for the double jabbed, with an update expected later this week.

An update on plans to axe school 'bubbles' for isolation is also due later this week.

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Mr Johnson insisted he had to 'balance the risks... the risks of the disease, and the risks of continuing with restrictions'.

'If we cannot reopen our society in the next few weeks... when will we be able to return to normal?' he said.

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