Shapps on COVID travel restrictions, NHS app

The UK transport secretary on Friday addressed new plans from the British government to scrap quarantine rules for fully vaccinated UK residents returning to England after travelling from most countries.

From July 19, when nearly all coronavirus restrictions in England will be lifted, UK residents that are fully vaccinated and are returning from countries put on Britain's amber list will no longer have to isolate when they arrive in the country.

Travelers still must take a coronavirus test three days before returning to the UK, and within two days after their arrival.

Children under 18 will not need to quarantine after traveling and the changes do not apply to nonresidents.

Shapps said the move would open up a "large number of countries" and was "good news" for holiday makers or those wanting to see loved ones.

He added the government was still working on "phase two" to ease rules for non UK citizens arriving in the country who were also fully vaccinated.

The transport secretary also said the government was keeping the "sensitivity" of the UK's coronavirus app under "constant review" with changes to restrictions set to come into affect later this month.

"As the overall nationwide levels for things like the amount of distance that you keep, the social distancing and other rules are looked at so will we look at the way that the app performs with regard to what are now the new standards being in place," he said.