The UK government stated Friday that anybody travelling to the UK from France after the coronavirus restrictions were eased on July 19 would still be needed to quarantine at home.

The removal of the mandatory quarantine for vaccinated British citizens returning from nations bordering on London’s “amber” list “will not apply to France following the persistent presence of cases in France of the Beta variant, which was first identified in South Africa”, the Department of Health said in a statement.

The British government said on Friday that a planned easing of COVID quarantine restrictions for travellers from France, which was set to take effect on Monday, will be scrapped.

Previously, Britain intended to relax a rule that double-vaccinated visitors from France be quarantined at home for ten days after arrival, in line with plans for other nations on its amber travel alert.

Also Read | Long COVID has more than 200 symptoms, affects 10 organs: Study

“Anyone arriving from France to England must continue to quarantine for ten days at home or in other accommodation, even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” Britain’s health ministry said in a statement.

The plan to place France on the red list was addressed on Wednesday as part of an official assessment of foreign travel, according to the Daily Telegraph, and ministers decided to keep an eye on the issue.

South Africa was the first place where the Beta coronavirus variant was discovered. The red list is a list of nations with the strictest travel restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom. The locations on the list necessitate quarantine in a hotel upon return. France is now on the amber list of nations with a medium risk.

Health policy in other UK nations Scotland and Wales is set by their own devolved governments.

“With restrictions lifting on Monday across the country, we will do everything we can to ensure international travel is conducted as safely as possible, and protect our borders from the threat of variants,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in the statement.

Also Read | UK unlocks from July 19: From masks to COVID passports, know new rules

Due to complicated testing and quarantine procedures, Britain’s quarantine regulations have essentially halted international travel to all but a few places.

Currently, the United Kingdom has ten times the number of COVID cases as France. Turkey is now the most popular summer tourist destination on Britain’s red list, with the rest of Europe classified as amber.