The petition points out that millions of Britons living abroad still have to quarantine if they want to return home to visit family and friends, even if they have been vaccinated. This is despite British tourists getting to go-ahead to avoid quarantine on their return.
“Regardless of vaccination status, we face prohibitively lengthy and expensive hotel quarantine if we return home. Many of us have not seen family since before the pandemic and are being prevented from doing so by quarantine restrictions,” the petition read.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced recently that from July 19th, Britons visiting amber list countries, such as France, would no longer have to quarantine on arrival back in the UK, as long as they were fully vaccinated.
However the UK will only accept vaccines administered by the NHS.
The rules mean that UK nationals in Germany who had their jabs in the UK can travel overseas and return without having to quarantine – but those who had their vaccines in Germany will face a 10-day quarantine if they want to travel to the UK to visit friends and family, as well as paying around £170 for the compulsory testing on the second and eighth day of self-isolation.
We have written to Grant Shapps…https://t.co/bXwtnwHa4A
— British in Europe (@BritishInEurope) July 8, 2021
The announcement sparked anger among UK nationals living abroad, many of whom have not seen family for 18 months as they cannot afford expensive travel testing packages as well as taking an extra 10 days off work to quarantine.
Adding to the stress, many people have questioned why Germany has not been added to the UK’s green list for travel due to the low level of Covid cases. Arrivals from green list countries do not have to quarantine.
Can someone explain to me why Germany hasn’t been added to the green list? @UKinGermany @transportgovuk
The 7 day incidence here is 7.1 (and it’s 329 in the UK!)
Gutted that this means I won’t be able to visit my family, as the UK still won’t recognise my vaccination status. https://t.co/84ZTcc2m7j
— Matt Bristow (@psychomologist) July 14, 2021
More than 49,600 people have now signed the petition, prompting a response from the government. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.
The UK government said in its response: “Public health has always been our number one priority and we will not risk throwing away our hard-won achievements which have only been possible through the work of the British people.
“We recognise the impact that restrictions and this pandemic have had on many people. We have made enormous progress this past year in tackling the pandemic across Britain. That progress has been hard won and it is important that we do not risk undermining it now. Yet we are also a nation with ties across the globe.
“There are some instances where travellers might be able to get an exemption from needing to quarantine. These exemptions are exceptional and limited, and you will need evidence to support your request.
“Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you still have to follow the same testing and isolation requirements as non-vaccinated people when you return to the country, as per the traffic light system.”
You can sign the petition HERE.
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What utter tripe from the British Government. So only a UK syringe is good enough, whatever is inside it?
Yet again, they are basically saying that you are only truly British if you Live in Britain. No wonder Inselaffen is the nickname
The UK government response to this petition is just factually incorrect: from today (19 July), since UK-vaccinated people can indeed avoid quarantine after being in amber countries (minus France). Wow, they can’t even understand their own policy…?
WRONG:
“Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you still have to follow the same testing and isolation requirements as non-vaccinated people when you return to the country, as per the traffic light system.”