Germany has taken five countries, including the UK and Portugal, off the strict travel restriction list. Until now, the government had sought to keep the Delta variant out of Germany by limiting arrivals, however Merkel's government has accepted the strain is set to become more common in the coming weeks. 

While the policy change is perhaps most significant for British travelers who are eager to return to European summer holidays, it also affects those coming from Russia, India, and Nepal. Travelers must have received two doses of vaccination in order to enter. 

Germany introduced its virus variant travel category in a bid to stop new variants entering the country. Health Minister Jens Spahn conceded last week that battle had been with the Delta variant, which has become well established in Germany. The country's Robert Koch Institute has agreed with UK scientists that, while the variant is more contagious, it is less likely to lead to fatalities among vaccinated members of society.

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Prior to the change in classification, travelers from the four countries were banned from entering Germany unless they were residents, in which case they had to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. Eleven countries will remain on Germany's virus variant area list for now, meaning non-residents arriving from those destinations are still banned. 

The decisions, effective from Wednesday, come after Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday Britons who have had two COVID-19 vaccinations would soon be able to travel to Germany without going into quarantine on arrival.

Earlier on Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans to end social and economic COVID-19 restrictions in England ion July 19, a test of whether a rapid vaccine roll-out offers enough protection from the highly contagious Delta variant.