The Government is considering tightening restrictions on international travel by mandating that holidaymakers be triple vaccinated if they are to avoid mandatory testing and quarantine. A grace period is being discussed which, if implemented, would mean that those not offered a booster jab within six months after they received their second dose would be exempt from the law, but the window could be as low as only two months. The Telegraph has the story.
The plans, which emerged on Saturday night, would see quarantine and testing reimposed for eligible groups who refuse to take up the top-up dose.
On Saturday night Government sources confirmed they were looking into the proposals, which would be modelled on the system in Israel.
British holidaymakers are already facing travel restrictions if they wish to travel to the country or to Austria, where the authorities have begun imposing limits on the validity of vaccinations.
However, according to the Mail on Sunday, the Government is now looking at imposing restrictions on those returning from abroad amid concerns that waning immunity over time risks them returning home with the virus.
Officials are said to be divided over how soon to implement the measures and are considering a grace period that would allow people to travel without quarantining if they had sought a booster six months after their second jab but had not yet been offered an appointment.
Sources said that a grace period of between one and two months was under discussion.
The plans are likely to provoke a backlash among Tory MPs and, if enacted, would represent another potential blow to the aviation and travel industries, which have already endured months of reduced trade due to global restrictions.
It came as Health Secretary Sajid Javid said almost 10 million people have now received their booster jab, but encouraged people to urge their elderly relatives to come forward.
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