THE number of red list countries will reduce to seven from 54, the government says.

The red list rules will change from 4am Monday 11 October, with 47 countries and territories being removed from its red list.

The seven countries the red list will reduce to are: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, with the government extending inbound vaccinated arrivals to a further 37 countries and territories including: India, South Africa and Turkey.

Passengers who are not fully vaccinated returning from a non-red country must take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 test and complete 10 days self-isolation.

From 4am Monday 11 October, vaccinated travellers vaccinated in over 37 countries including Brazil, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey will also be treated the same as returning fully vaccinated UK residents. This is required if travellers have not visited a red list country in the 10 days before arriving to England.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

"With half-term and winter sun around the corner, we’re making it easier for families and loved ones to reunite, by significantly cutting the number of destinations on the red list, thanks in part to the increased vaccination efforts around the globe.

Restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding our economy and levelling up this country. With less restrictions and more people traveling, we can all continue to move safely forward together along our pathway to recovery."

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

"Our robust border measures have helped protect the phenomenal progress of our vaccination programme, and it is because of this success both here and around the world that we can safely open up travel further and we can visit friends and family abroad.

We’re now making it easier and cheaper for people to travel by allowing fully vaccinated travellers from non-red list countries to use lateral flow tests on day 2 of arrival, as long as they provide proof of use."