MORE than 100 countries could be cleared for quarantine-free summer breaks for those Brits who have had both Covid jab doses.
Ministers are considering plans to allow the fully-vaccinated to flash their NHS App at border controls to avoid the ten-day self-isolation.
This could open up sunny favourites currently on the amber list, including Spain, France and Greece. The strategy is still in early discussions but The Sun understands that, if it is approved, Boris Johnson could sign off the plans before the season is done.
Treasury Secretary Jesse Norman, hinting a scheme is in the works, said: “We don’t want to get left behind by countries which may be adopting a two-jab approach if it can be done safely, carefully and securely.”
A Whitehall source added: “I don’t think we can wait for a long time if it is something that we want to do.”
Brits will still have to take a series of PCR tests on their return — but they will not have to stay locked in their homes if they test negative. Families would still be banned from holidaying in red list countries, and those returning would be forced to quarantine in state-mandated hotels.
Another government insider said: “It’s one of many things they are looking at — and this is in the very early stages.
“We need to line up our border policy with vaccinations, and internally it sounds like something we may do.”
But ministers are worried reopening international travel before everyone has been jabbed twice will create a two-tier system, where pensioners can jet off to Corfu but youngsters have to settle for staycations.
A source said: “We don't want to see the oldies getting into fights with youths at the airport.”
The news came as airline chiefs at Ryanair and Manchester Airports Group launched legal action over what they called the chaotic “make it up as you go along” traffic light system.
In court papers, they demanded ministers spell out the scientific information they are using on how they put countries on the red, amber or green list.
Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, raged: “The UK’s traffic light system has been a complete shambles from the beginning.
“This go-stop-go-stop policy is causing untold damage to the aviation industry and frustrating and upsetting millions of British families when they see their holiday plans and family visits disrupted by the Government’s mismanagement of international travel.”
Charlie Cornish, boss of Manchester Airports Group, added: “For most countries, the traffic light seems to be stuck on amber for no obvious reason, despite having prevalence rates much lower than the UK.”
But Britain’s daily Covid-19 cases passed 11,000 yesterday for the first time since February 19 and daily coronavirus deaths, at 19, were their highest since May 11 when 20 people lost their lives.
A whopping 11,007 new cases were reported, giving a total of 4,600,623 since the beginning of the pandemic. The total UK death toll is 127,945.
The numbers are rising despite the huge vaccine push — with four in five adults in the UK now vaccinated.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed the NHS is set to contact today those between 18 and 20 and invite them to book a slot.
Around one million people aged 21 and 22 were told to book their first jab on Wednesday.
Hundreds of thousands of texts were sent inviting them to schedule appointments for both doses via the national booking system.
Sir Simon Stevens, head of the NHS in England, had promised on Tuesday all adults in England should be able to book their first jab by the end of the week.
Dr Emily Lawson, from the NHS Covid vaccination programme, said: “The largest ever NHS vaccination campaign is in the home stretch of the first dose rollout.
“The vaccine is the most important step you can take to protect yourself, your friends and family, so it’s really important everybody in the latest eligible groups books themselves in to play their part.”
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