London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Covid travel: Wales partly agrees to relax rules

Covid travel: Wales partly agrees to relax rules

Wales has partially agreed to align with England's plans to overhaul rules on international travel.

Green and amber lists of countries will be merged and pre-departure Covid tests will be scrapped from 4 October.

But ministers have still not decided whether to stop using PCR tests for returning travellers.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan urged the UK government to keep the "vital" testing regime.

But comments from Ms Morgan admitting "challenges" in having a Wales-only system were seized on by the Conservatives, who claimed Labour did not know "if they're coming or going" on travel.

It has been unclear whether the Welsh government would agree to the changes, which were announced over a week ago.

Under reforms from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, amber and green lists in England would be merged from 4 October and fully-vaccinated travellers will no longer have to take a pre-departure test, or a day eight test after their return.

From later in October, people will be able to take a lateral flow test two days after they arrive back in the country - hopefully "for when people return from half-term breaks", the UK government said.

Scotland had concerns about the new testing regime, but now plans to align with the UK government.

There have been concerns from the Welsh government that it would make it harder to detect new coronavirus variants coming from abroad.

While travel is a devolved matter for each nation of the UK to decide, the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish governments have often followed the UK government's rules for England during the pandemic.

Ms Morgan said: "The decision to move away from PCR tests from returning travellers on day two is concerning.

"This test, combined with genetic sequencing of all positive tests, is a vital part of our surveillance for coronavirus and protects our borders from the virus."

She said the strongest solution would be for the UK government to reinstate UK-wide testing, adding that there were "communication and enforcement challenges" in Wales having different testing requirements.

The minister added that the government continued to "thoroughly examine the evidence for a Wales-only testing regime".

'Ministers can't live in fear'


Welsh Conservative health spokesman Russell George said: "Sadly for the people of Wales, Labour don't know if they're coming or going with travel lists.

"The Welsh government can't permanently live in fear of another variant of Covid. Again, the minister's arbitrary rationale behind her decision-making would have the borders shut indefinitely."

The UK government's Department for Transport said: "Due to the success of our vaccine rollout and the epidemiological situation abroad, we are able to take a proportionate approach to international travel, simplifying the system and reducing costs while managing risks to public health.

"Public health is a devolved matter and we continue to work closely with devolved administrations on four nation alignment where possible."

It added that genomic sequencing - which is used to investigate different variants of coronavirus - will continue for positive PCR tests after international travel.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×