Portugal under threat as ministers set to update travel ‘green list’
Ministers will today meet to sign off on changes to the UK’s travel “green list”, with reports that popular holiday destination Portugal could be switched to “amber” after a surge in cases.
Speaking about the update yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that the government would not hesitate to suspend quarantine-free travel if necessary.
“You’ve got to wait and see what the Joint Biosecurity Council says and what the recommendations are about travel”, he said.
“We’re going to try to allow people to travel, as I know that many people want to, but we’ve got to be cautious and we’ve got to continue to put countries on the red list, on the amber list, when that is necessary.
“I want you to know we will have no hesitation in moving countries from the green list to the amber list to the red list, if we have to do so. The priority is to continue the vaccination rollout, to protect the people of this country.”
The Guardian reported that in the event that any countries were added to the list, it was unlikely that any major tourist destinations would be among them.
Travel industry experts have been pushing hard for island groups such as the Canaries or the Balearics to be added to the list.
However, it is unlikely that either will be added at this point. Malta, Finland, and Poland, the Guardian said, were far more likely prospects.
What are the rules?
- Green: Travellers returning from green countries have to take a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of departure, and then take a PCR test on or before the second day of their return to the UK (even if fully vaccinated). They will not have to quarantine.
- Amber: Holidaymakers returning from “amber” destinations have to isolate at home for 10 days. Amber travellers also have to take a test before departure and book and pay for two PCR tests on day two and day eight of their home quarantine. If they want to release quarantine early, they can pay for a PCR test on day five (but will still have to take the test on the eighth day, as well).
- Red: Brits coming back from “red” countries have to quarantine for 10 days in hotels chosen by the government. The stay costs £1,750 per person, with pre-departure tests and tests on days two and eight.