UK quarantine travel rules: What is the traffic light system and when does the 14-day self-isolation rule end?

A NEW traffic-light system is set to allow Brits to return home from certain countries without having to quarantine.

Coronavirus lockdown restrictions have meant people have had to self-isolate for two weeks upon returning to the UK - but that is all set to change.

Will I have to quarantine when I come back from holiday?

To put it simply, no you will not have to quarantine when you return from a country marked green.

If you come back from a country marked red then you will.

Although there isn't a set date for the quarantine rules to end, they were originally only put in place for an initial three week period, until Monday 29 June.

But an announcement was made on July 3, saying 59 countries will be made exempt from quarantine, which is a shift from earlier plans, which suggested the list would be much more limited.

France, Germany, Italy and Spain are on the list published on Friday, July 3.

The list only applies to travellers from England, with different restrictions in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Speaking on Sky News, Travel Secretary Grant Shapps said: “There will be a list of 50-plus countries. If you add in the overseas territories (there will be) 60-something-or-other that will be announced later today.

“France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be on that list.  It is really important that we have done this in a very careful and cautious way.

"The most important thing is to maintain the gains that we have had.”

Most countries in the EU are included, as well as long-haul destinations like New Zealand, Barbados and Hong Kong.

Travellers returning from the green list of countries will not have to stay home for 14 days when they arrive in the UK.

Travellers heading to destinations on the Red list must quarantine for 14 days on returning to the UK.

This includes two European coujntries - Portugal and Sweden.

Other countries on the Red list are Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand and the USA.

The measures are expected to be introduced as early as July 6.

What are the quarantine rules in the UK?

From July 10 the quarantine rules will not apply are travelling or returning from one of the countries with travel corridor exemption.

The changes will be welcome, with research showing almost three-quarters of Brits haven't had a holiday this year, while almost half the nation has had to cancel one.

Since June 8, guidelines have required anyone entering the UK to quarantine for 14 days.

Those rules for the time being - both to Brits returning to the country and tourists arriving from abroad.

Anyone entering the country must provide contact details and then self-isolate for 14 days, or face a fine of up to £100.

Police are conducting checks to ensure people are quarantining and not leaving their residence for the two-week period.

Magistrates also have the powers to prosecute or to issue unlimited fines for persistent breaches of the new self-isolation rule, or for refusal to pay a fine that has already been issued.