The government is lifting its opinion against non-essential travel to 51 other countries and territories due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Foreign Minister Liz Truss said the ruling allows people to “exercise their personal responsibility.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) will lift its opinion on the Bahamas, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Martinique, Palau, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Western Sahara on Friday .

Notices for 42 other sites will be lifted on Monday, including Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Indonesia, Mexico, Seychelles, South Africa and Thailand.

It follows the removal of travel advisories in 32 countries on Wednesday and is part of a new policy to stop advising Britons to avoid all but essential travel to countries not on the red list for Covid reasons -19, except in “exceptional circumstances”, such as if the local health system is overwhelmed.

This makes it easier for people visiting these places to obtain travel insurance.

Ms Truss said: “These updates make it easier to travel abroad – boosting commerce, tourism and bringing friends and family together.

“I am delighted that the safe reopening of travel allows people to exercise their personal responsibility and visit more destinations around the world.”

It was announced Thursday that 47 countries such as South Africa, Mexico and Thailand will be taken off England’s red list at 4 a.m. on Monday.

This means people will be able to get to England from these places without spending 11 nights in a quarantine hotel at a cost of £ 2,285 for solo travelers.

Only seven countries will remain on the red list.

These are Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted on Friday the previously announced policy of allowing fully vaccinated eligible arrivals to use a cheaper and faster lateral flow test for their post-arrival test – rather than the PCR version – will be in use. up by the end of the month.

No specific date has been set, but Mr Shapps said the goal is to have made the switch by this month’s midterm break.

When asked if he was referring to the English school holidays around October 22, he told Times Radio: “Yes, that’s right, October 22. That’s the goal and, like I said, the testing companies are getting ready to do it.

“I’ve spoken to airports, including Heathrow, and they even have tests available when you walk around the airport, so you can be done and dusted off before you even get home with these things, which will be a big hit. considerable improvement over the shipment. PCR testing in laboratories and awaiting results and all costs involved.

British Airways reported a five-fold increase in vacation searches on its website within hours of announcing the redlist reduction, compared to the same period the day before.

Cancun, Cape Town and Johannesburg were among the most popular destinations.