UK removes Turkey from COVID-19 red list

The U.K. will remove Turkey from its "red list" for travel starting next week, British transport minister Grant Shapps said on Sept. 17. Shapps also said under the new proposals destinations will simply be ranked low or high risk, instead of red, amber and green.

Friday September 17 2021 09:23 am

Duvar English

U.K. Secretary of Transport Grant Shapps confirmed on Sept. 17 that Turkey will no longer be on the country's "red" list of travel destinations starting next week.

Travelers returning to the U.K. from Turkey, Pakistan, and the Maldives will not have to quarantine on their return.

Shapps also said under the new proposals destinations will simply be ranked low or high risk, instead of red, amber and green.

"We’re making testing easier for travel," he said on Twitter.

In addition, EIGHT countries and territories will come off the red list 🔴 from Weds 22 Sept at 4am, incl. TURKEY, PAKISTAN and MALDIVES.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 17, 2021

The minister's remarks came following The Times newspaper's report from a day earlier that the U.K. government would remove Turkey from its COVID-19 red list.

The red list - countries from which arrivals must quarantine in a hotel - will be more than halved, meaning that the vast majority of countries will be opened up for double-jabbed British tourists to visit freely, The Times said.

Airlines and airports have long argued a change to the rules was needed, saying it was stopping the travel industry from being able to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.