Caribbean islands ‘likely to be added to Green List next month’

A host of Caribbean islands are likely to be added to the Government’s quarantine-free ‘green list’ next month.

The nations that could be added in June are the ‘near misses’ for Friday’s list of just 12 countries and territories, the Telegraph reported.

Islands in the Caribbean such as Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis are reporting close to zero infection rates. 

Another territory likely to be added to the updated list is the British Virgin Islands, which has had just 216 infections and one death since the pandemic began.  

It comes as figures showed less than 1 per cent of arrivals from European holiday hotspots such as Greece, Spain and Italy are testing positive for Covid.

Analysis of NHS Test and Trace data by the Mail reveals around 0.8 per cent of arrivals from Greece over the latest four-week period tested positive for the virus. 

The figure for Spain was 0.7 per cent, Italy 0.4 per cent and Portugal 0.6 per cent.

But despite the similar rates, Portugal was the only major European hotspot to make the Government’s quarantine-free travel ‘green list’ last week.

Travel chiefs last night said the figures proved it was safe for ministers to expand the list to include more of Europe when foreign holidays restart next Monday. 

A host of Caribbean islands are likely to be added to the Government’s quarantine-free ‘green list’ next month. It comes as figures showed less than 1 per cent of arrivals from European holiday hotspots such as Greece , Spain and Italy are testing positive for Covid, NHS data shows. Pictured: Costa Paradiso Beach, Sardinia

Thanks to their low infection and variant rates, Fiji, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Finland and Malta are also said to have been on a shortlist for inclusion on Friday’s ‘green list’. 

The news that just 12 destinations were ranked green when the list was unveiled on Friday sparked a backlash from industry bosses.

Foreign tourism ministers have also expressed their dismay.

Greek tourism minister Harry Theocharis said: ‘We consider Greece is at a very good status regarding the epidemic at the moment and every week it is getting better and better. This is what the data shows.’ 

He also hit out at UK ministers for not treating Greece’s islands, where vaccination rates are higher, differently to the mainland, adding: ‘Britain could have taken a different approach for those islands.’

Rodi Kratsa, governor of the Ionian islands region, which includes holiday hotspots Corfu and Zante, said: ‘The decision of Great Britain not to include Greece in the announced green list and to enforce quarantine to travellers returning to England is unjustifiable.

‘Greece has proven credibility and efficacy in managing the pandemic crisis, and so has the region of Ionian islands, a region that is loved by British travellers.

‘I am sure Britain will very soon change this decision.’

Since February, anyone returning from abroad has been required to take two tests after arrival on days two and eight, while quarantining at home or in a hotel for ten days.

Travel chiefs said the figures proved it was safe for Government (pictured: Boris Johnson) to expand the list to include more of Europe when foreign holidays restart next Monday

Travel chiefs said the figures proved it was safe for Government (pictured: Boris Johnson) to expand the list to include more of Europe when foreign holidays restart next Monday

The NHS Test and Trace data shows that of 3,823 people who took tests on day two after arriving from Spain between March 26 and April 22, the latest period available, just 26 tested positive. 

Of 3,036 people who travelled from Italy, 13 tested positive, while five of 635 arrivals from Greece had the virus. 

Of 501 arrivals from Portugal, three tested positive.

The data provides a snapshot into the risk of importing infection from each country, which also have similar vaccination rates.

EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: ‘We do not believe the Government’s decision to limit the green list to so few countries is justified and this evidence from the Mail shows that, even at times of high Covid in Europe, travel was a source of relatively few cases.  

‘With the huge success of the vaccination programme which is being used to open up the domestic economy, there is no reason why Britons should be denied the right to travel to their holiday favourites this summer.’

The criticism came as it emerged that free NHS lateral flow tests may not be approved for holidaymakers to take abroad with them.

Figures showed less than 1 per cent of arrivals from European holiday hotspots such as Greece, Spain and Italy are testing positive for Covid

Figures showed less than 1 per cent of arrivals from European holiday hotspots such as Greece, Spain and Italy are testing positive for Covid

It would mean travellers having to shell out for a pre-departure test before returning to the UK.

Ministers had proposed giving travellers rapid tests to take with them to cut the hassle and cost of arranging one in a foreign country. 

But sources said there were concerns about validating the tests and their accuracy.

A Government spokesman said last night: ‘We have taken a cautious approach to our green travel list to protect the country and our vaccination campaign from the threat of Covid-19 variants.

‘The decision to add countries to the red, amber or green lists is made jointly by ministers, informed by the latest scientific data and public health advice and taking into account a range of factors.’

THE NHS DATA 

GREEN

Portugal

  • Arrivals tested: 501
  • Positive: 3 
  • Infected rate: 0.6%

Gibraltar 

  • Tested: 196
  • Positive: < 3
  • Infected rate: N/A

AMBER

Netherlands 

  • Tested: 712
  • Positive: 10 
  • Infected rate: 1.4%

France 

  • Tested: 2,589
  • Positive: 21
  • Infected rate: 0.8%

Greece 

  • Tested: 635
  • Positive: 5 
  • Infected rate: 0.8%

Spain 

  • Tested: 3,823
  • Positive: 26
  • Infected rate: 0.7%

Italy 

  • Tested: 3,036
  • Positive: 13 
  • Infected rate: 0.4%

Germany 

  • Tested: 1,539
  • Positive: 6 
  • Infected rate: 0.4%

Cyprus 

  • Tested: 591
  • Positive: < 3 
  • Infected rate: N/A

Austria 

  • Tested: 299
  • Positive: < 3 
  • Infected rate: N/A

Malta 

  • Tested: 123
  • Positive: < 3 
  • Infected rate: N/A

Croatia 

  • Tested: 87
  • Positive: < 3 
  • Infected rate: N/A

*Portugal and Gibraltar go green on May 17

Source: NHS Test and Trace

Data relates to the period March 26 – April 22