Travelers who arrive in England from countries with high infection rates will be able to shorten their quarantine from 14 days to five if they test negative for coronavirus on the fifth day, the Department of Transport has said.
Passengers will have to pay for the tests themselves and will need to book with one of the private providers on the government’s list.
They will cost between £65 and £120.
Authorities said they want the scheme, which will come into effect on 15 December, to boost travel without putting additional pressure on the NHS.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We have a plan in place to ensure that our route out of this pandemic is careful and balanced, allowing us to focus on what we can now do to bolster international travel while keeping the public safe.
“Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see loved ones, and drive international business. By giving people the choice to test on day five, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild out of the pandemic.”
Speaking to Sky News, Mr. Shapps said reducing the quarantine period was “quite a complicated thing to put in place”.