England’s Covid travel red list to be cut to a dozen countries

Ministers planning to take Brazil, Mexico and South Africa off list but decision to axe PCR test requirement hangs in balance

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Ministers will slash England's travel red list to about a dozen countries, but plans for replacing the requirement for a negative PCR test with a lateral flow one to avoid isolation hang in the balance.

Destinations including Brazil, Mexico and South Africa are expected to be moved off the red list on Thursday, meaning passengers returning from them will not have to isolate in a hotel for 11 nights at a cost of more than 2,000.