Fully vaccinated Canadian travellers have inexplicably been left out of plans to ease quarantine restrictions for entry to England and Scotland – for now. While the United Kingdom countries announced Wednesday that travellers who were fully vaccinated in the United States or Europe will not have to quarantine upon arrival starting Aug. 2, Visit Britain’s VP Americas Paul Gauger says Canadians may receive the same privilege soon.
Gauger, who was introducing the start of the one-year countdown to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next July in a webinar with reporters, said of the quarantine move, “The UK government currently has a traffic light system and Canada is currently on the amber list, which requires testing and quarantine upon entry into the UK. But we anticipate this will be reviewed… so stay tuned for news.”
The English and Scottish governments did not provide a reason why Canada, which has the highest percentage of vaccinated citizens in the world, was not included in the new quarantine exceptions, which include European Union member states apart from France, members of the European free trade agreement, and the microstate countries of Andorra, Monaco, and Vatican City,
However, the British High Commission in Canada said in a statement that the UK government is taking a “phased approach” to easing COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“Ensuring safe and open travel is a priority and we are engaging with international partners on certification to ensure travel for vaccinated people is unhindered in the future,” the commission said.
In the meantime, that means Canadians landing in England or Scotland must quarantine at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test after day eight.
The other two countries that make up the UK – Wales and Northern Ireland – did not change their rules, meaning Canadians also still must self-isolate upon arrival.
English Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the new measures are meant to help family members visit each other, and to help businesses benefit from increased trade.
“We’ve taken great strides on our journey to reopen international travel and today is another important step forward,” Shapps said in a news release.
“We will of course continue to be guided by the latest scientific data but thanks to our world-leading domestic vaccination program, we’re able to look to the future and start to rebuild key transatlantic routes with the US while further cementing ties with our European neighbours.”
Michael Matheson, the Scottish transport secretary, said in a statement that the changes have been made possible due to the success of vaccination programs in Scotland, the EU, and US.
“Fully vaccinated travellers will be able to travel to Scotland under this significant relaxation of international travel measures, providing a boost for the tourism sector and wider economy while ensuring public health is protected,” he said.
In Vancouver, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was asked on Wednesday about the countries’ decisions and she said she respects them.
“I have a great deal of respect for every country’s sovereign right to decide during COVID who can come into the country and on what terms,” she said.
Canada has said that it will open its borders to fully vaccinated international travellers on Sept. 7, following the admission of American travellers on Aug. 9.