Shapps reveals measly list of 12 overseas destinations Brits can visit without self-isolating – including Australia and New Zealand (who won’t let us in) and the sunny Falkland and Faroe Islands – then warns of massive queues to get back in
British holidaymakers will be able to head to Portugal, Gibraltar and nine other destinations without quarantining on their return from May 17, Grant Shapps confirmed today.
The Transport secretary unveiled a 12-strong green list of nations where visits will not lead to automatic quarantine requirements.
But he warned that the countries would remain on a ‘watch list’ and reserved the right to take them off again if there is a spike in Covid cases.
Fronting a Government press conference tonight, Mr Shapps said the plan was ‘necessarily cautious’, adding; We must make sure that the countries we reconnect with are safe.’
The countries on the green list from May 17 are: Portugal including the Azores and Madeira; Australia; New Zealand; Singapore; Brunei; Iceland; the Faroe Islands; Gibraltar; the Falkland Islands; and Israel.
The Transport secretary unveiled a 12-strong green list of firms where visits will not lead to automatic quarantine requirements.
All the countries on the UK’s first green list have similarly low Covid infection rates, meaning the risk of travellers carrying cases between nations is low
Meanwhile Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal have been added to the red list.
People returning from those countries after 4am on Wednesday will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £1,750 for solo travellers.
The DfT also announced that from May 17, people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to use the NHS app to demonstrate their status.
People who do not have the app will be able to request an NHS letter from that date.