Forex Trading For Beginners 2021: Covid-19: Aim for double-jabbed arrivals to avoid quarantine

People enjoy the sun at the beach in Cascais, Portugal

Ministers are "working on" plans for quarantine-free travel from amber list countries for people who are fully vaccinated, Matt Hancock has said.

He said the plans for England had not been "clinically advised yet".

But the health secretary said the government was looking at plans to allow the vaccine to "bring back" some freedoms.

Currently travellers arriving from countries on the red or amber travel lists have to isolate for 10 days.

Asked on Sky News if the measure could be in place as soon as August, Mr Hancock said: "We'll get there when it's safe to do so."

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine she would not speculate on what was going to happen in terms of travel but said the government was looking at what it could do to "ease up requirements where it makes sense".

She said: "We're not ready to make an announcement yet, but fundamentally what we need to do is - while keeping people safe - making sure we're freeing up the rules as much as we can."

Responding to Mr Hancock's comments Green MP Caroline Lucas, vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, said scrapping quarantine measures would be "reckless" and called for the government to focus on upgrading systems at airports.

"The Delta variant first arrived here in the UK precisely because of inadequate pre-travel requirements and health checks at UK arrival halls, compounded by a lack of support and enforcement of mandatory quarantine," she said.

Under the current rules for England, arrivals from the few green list countries do not have to quarantine but must book a test for day two of their return.

Those arriving from red list destinations must isolate in a government approved hotel for 10 days. Those coming from amber countries, the category which covers most other countries - must quarantine for 10 days. They do not need to be in a hotel.

The health secretary also told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that England remained "on track" for the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions on 19 July, with case rates "slowing" and hospitalisations "not rising quickly".

He said the number of people dying from Covid in England remained "very, very low" and said this showed the "vaccine was working".

Mr Hancock also warned that the coming winter could be "challenging", but said that he hoped the government would not have to bring back restrictions.

Across the UK there were 93 deaths involving Covid-19 registered during the week of 11 June - the lowest number in a single week since the August bank holiday last year.

The Office for National Statistics said its survey suggested that infections are continued to increase in England but the "trend is uncertain" in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.