Business travellers exempt from quarantine rules

The transport secretary has announced that “high value” business travellers will no longer have to isolate if they are returning to the UK from a country, not on the travel corridor list.

The new rules are applied to bosses of foreign multinational firms and those planning to invest in order to allow “more travel to support the economy and jobs”.

Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, announced the move on Twitter and said high-value business travellers would be exempt from quarantine rules “subject to specific criteria being met”.

He said: “New Business Traveller exemption: From 4am on Sat 5th Dec high-value business travellers … will no longer need to self-isolate when returning to ENGLAND from a country NOT in a travel corridor, allowing more travel to support the economy and jobs. Conditions apply.”

Adding: “From 4am on Sat 5th Dec certain performing arts professionals … TV production staff … journalists and recently signed elite sportspersons will also be exempt, subject to specific criteria being met.”

“The government’s decision to provide a limited number of quarantine exemptions for business travellers is welcome, and this will help open up business travel and provide a much needed shot in the arm for UK Plc,” said the chief executive of London City Airport, Robert Sinclair.

“We believe the way to do this is to adopt a globally harmonised pre-departure testing regime which eliminates the need for quarantine altogether,” he added.

The Department for Transport published further information, saying that “individuals undertaking specific business activity which would deliver a significant benefit to the UK economy – including activity that creates or preserves 50+ UK jobs – will no longer need to self-isolate when travelling or returning from non-exempt countries. Individuals will only be exempt when undertaking the specific business activity and will only be able to meet with others as required by that specific activity.”

It added: “Exemptions will also come into force at the same time for domestic and international performing arts professionals, TV production staff, journalists and recently signed elite sportspersons, ensuring that industries which require specific, high-talent individuals who rely on international connections can continue to complete their work.”