The travel rules into the UK are really something of a confused muddle.

What was a simple traffic light system has moved on. Amber and green both now have additional classifications indicating that their status may change at a moment’s notice.

But today it has been announced that EU and US citizens who have been vaccinated outside the UK will no longer need to quarantine on arrival. There is no doubt that the place where vaccinations are given is hardly going to make a difference to whether a vaccine works or not whereas perhaps the vaccine used may make a difference if it has not been approved for use in the UK.

As time goes on, countries are going to have to come up with a unified system on travel as it will become unworkable if there are so many different positions that no one will really know what can and cannot be done. And yet while vaxxed US citizens will apparently be welcome here, they are still being urged by their owned government not to come because of the high perceived risk.

No mention, of course, has been made of cutting out the tests on arrival. They will presumably still be required and have to be paid for. We await further information perhaps on that front. And in the meanwhile Brits cannot go to the US so it is all rather one-sided.

How long is this all going to go on for? The truth is that no one really knows. It is all very well to say it is all but over because case numbers are dropping but things can change very quickly and, as we know, have done so I the past.

As we have been told many times, no one is safe until we are all safe. We must not forget that.

Adrian Leopard 28-07-21

Photo Kelly Sikkema