‘High value’ business travellers to be exempt from quarantine rules
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that ‘high value’ business travellers will be exempt from the quarantine rules from Saturday, in a decision that is set to rile the leisure market.
He said they will no longer have to self isolate from 4 am on 5 December, even after returning from a country that is not on the government’s travel corridor.
Shapps said it will ‘allow more travel to support the economy and jobs’.
It was not immediately clear what ‘high value’ meant, with Shapps saying more details will be announced shortly.
The development will delight the corporate travel world, including business agents.
But it will likely irritate the leisure market.
Social media commentators immediately questioned why, if a country was deemed unsafe by the government, the risk for business travellers – and wider community when they return – was any less than those travelling for pleasure.
In a further move, Shapps said certain performing arts professionals, TV production staff, journalists and ‘recently signed elite sportspersons’ will also be exempt from the quarantine rules, provided conditions are met.
No countries were added or removed from the travel corridor.
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