All remaining COVID travel measures, including the Passenger Locator Form and tests for unvaccinated arrivals, have now ended in the UK.

A range of “contingency measures” will be kept in reserve so ministers can take “swift and proportionate action” if needed to tackle new variants, according to the Department for Transport.

It is understood that these include targeted testing from a country where a new variant has been detected.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The plans would only be enacted “in extreme circumstances”, the department said.

Previously only fully vaccinated people were able to enter the UK without the need for tests.

All arrivals were also required to fill in a passenger locator form within 72 hours of travel, sharing their address, phone number, passport and flight details.

The forms were launched two years ago, when arrivals had to quarantine at home, to help check if travellers were following the rules.

Ukraine war: Home for Refugees scheme opens as government accused of failing to support Britons offering to host Ukrainians

P&O Ferries makes 800 staff redundant and warns of ‘significant disruption’ to services ‘over next few days’

P&O Ferries: What are the rights of workers and passengers affected by the mass sackings?

‘Greater freedom ahead of Easter’ despite rising COVID cases

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “I said we wouldn’t keep travel measures in place for any longer than necessary, which we’re delivering on today – providing more welcome news and greater freedom for travellers ahead of the Easter holidays.”

Aviation minister Robert Courts said the lifting of restrictions was due to “sacrifices made by the whole country”, adding that he hopes to “never see a day” when the rules are re-introduced.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The decision was made despite rising COVID-19 cases in all four UK nations since the end of January, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Infections in the UK have risen by 43.9% in the last seven days, with another 534,747 people testing positive.

The number of people hospitalised with the virus has increased 22% in the last week – a total of 11,580 patients in the last seven days.

In England hospital admissions remain well below the peaks reached during the Omicron and previous waves, while in Scotland the figure was close to the record peak seen in January last year, according to data from ZOE and King’s College London.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the lifting of travel restrictions was possible due to the success of the vaccine rollout and said the government would continue to monitor potential new variants.

‘A final game-changer’

Tim Alderslade, the chief executive of Airlines UK – the industry body representing UK carriers, welcomed the changes, saying “the time to return to the skies is now”.

“People want to go away, and there is a real air of positivity within the sector now,” he said.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, a tourism company, said: “The removal of all travel restrictions is the final game-changer – people can now go on holiday or visit family and friends overseas without all of the stress that comes with testing before they return home.

“Finally, we’ve seen the back of the unpopular and ineffective passenger locator forms, which were always a hassle to complete.

“Travel has been in turmoil for two years but now it’s back.”

He said bookings have risen in the last few months for destinations like the Maldives, Mauritius, the Caribbean and Europe.

Related posts:

COVID vaccines have prevented 10,400 deaths in older adults, Public Health England says PM praises Prince Philip’s ‘steadfast support’ for Queen as tributes paid to duke ‘He was our everything’: Family pays tribute to boy, 9, killed after being ‘struck by lightning’ Scotland beaten in first appearance at a major tournament in 23 years Mexico crocodile attack twin describes how she punched animal as it death rolled her sister UK daily COVID cases exceed 40,000 – highest since mid-January Children as young as 13 are being recruited by far-right extremists, says MI5 director-general Police forces to review allegations involving serving officers following Sarah Everard murder Businessman who organised fatal flight for footballer Emiliano Sala jailed for 18 months Officer investigating serial killer’s final victim was not told others had died in similar circumstances, inquest told Man charged with murdering woman in Somerset Police release new images of sex offender who escaped from prison