How is travel impacted as UK moves India to "amber" list?

UK has recently changed India's COVID-travel situation. What does it mean for us?

UK follows a simple "traffic light" system for classifying countries' safety for COVID travel. There are three colours: red, amber, and green. Red is the highest level of alertness, and green being the lowest. Here are the policies of the three categories:

• Red: Citizens from the countries on the red list are not allowed to travel to the UK. UK citizens are advised against visiting those countries.

• Amber: Citizens from countries on the amber list require a total of three COVID tests. The first test is to be done three days before departure from your country. The second test is to be done when landed in the UK, and a third test to be done on/after the 8th day of arrival into the UK. Moreover, the travellers are also supposed to hotel-quarantine themselves for ten days.

• Green: 72 hours before departing, a COVID test is to be done by the travellers from countries on the green list. On arrival another test will be done. No quarantine is required unless the COVID test after arrival shows a positive result.

Now, what does this mean for India: people can travel to the UK. The double vaccinated people can also skip the 10-day hotel quarantine, but they will still be asked to quarantine elsewhere.

Also, the UK government currently does not recognise Sputnik V, Covishield or Covaxin vaccines. However, as France recently recognised Covishield after Astra Zeneca's efforts, the UK will soon recognise Covishield.

Overall, travelling to the UK is now permissible. However, you are expected to do three COVID tests and quarantine for ten days.