NEWS: FCDO advice eased for some destinations and Malta backtracks on AZ India vaccine acceptance

FCDO advice eased for a number of destinations

The UK has some of the most complicated and confusing rules for travel (though Thailand can definitely give us a run for our money!). One of the things that confuses people is FCDO advice versus amber list. The government red, amber, and green lists are completely different despite being based on data about the risk to travellers! From 19 July the government will no longer advise against travel to amber list countries but you still need to check whether there is a specific warning against the country you plan to visit.

This week the FCDO have been removing “all but essential travel” warnings to a number of countries. This means that from Monday 19 July all insurance companies should cover amber countries without an FCDO warning.

The latest countries to have their warning removed are:

• Cyprus
• United States – The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico. However, the FCDO is not advising against all but essential travel to the whole of the US, including Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.
• Morocco
• Switzerland
• Spain
• France
• Greece
• Jamaica

You can find the full list of FCDO country’s advice here.

Malta backtracks on AZ India vaccine acceptance

The saga of Malta’s restrictions continues with yet another u-turn in what has been an embarrassment to watch as Malta’s government make one knee-jerk decision after another. Initially, they said they would not accept the NHS app only to backtrack within 2 days. Next, they said that they would not accept anyone who had been vaccinated in the UK with the Astra Zeneca vaccine which was manufactured in India despite it being exactly the same vaccine. Several Brits were turned away from their flights to Malta as a result.

Now after the UK government said that they would intervene, Malta has capitulated and Grant Shapps announced on Twitter:

UPDATE: The #Maltese authorities have amended their travel advice so anyone who has an OXFORD AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK (regardless of manufacture location) is able to travel without being turned away – with all vaccines having gone through rigorous safety and quality checks.

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) July 14, 2021

You can find the official Malta entry requirements here.