Visitors to England from the US and EU, excluding France, who have had two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will no longer have to quarantine upon arrival, providing a boost to film professionals looking to shoot and conduct business in the country.

The changes, announced today (Wednesday 28), will come into force at 04.00 BST on Monday, August 2.

The change will make it easier for international shoots and talent to come to England, as production levels recover from the dip last year when the pandemic struck.

The rule change will only apply to people who have been vaccinated with jabs approved by the EU or US, through the European Medicines Agency for the former and US Food and Drug Administration for the latter.

Travellers will still be required to take a Covid test pre-departure, and a PCR test on the second day after they arrive.

Tougher rules will remain in place for France, which still requires travellers to quarantine when they return, even if they are fully vaccinated.

It is not yet confirmed whether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also adopt the same measures.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has also confirmed that all remaining coronavirus rules will be lifted in England from August 16, with those who have had two doses of the vaccine no longer to required to self-isolate if a contact tests positive for Covid-19 from that date.

A further 27,734 new cases were reported in the UK on Wednesday 28, bringing to an end seven consecutive days of falling cases. There were 91 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.