Green list countries: UK travel restrictions based on traffic light system
The Government has confirmed that foreign travel will reopen under a traffic light system this summer
The Government has confirmed that foreign travel will reopen under a traffic light system this summer.
Countries will be split into three categories; green, amber or red, depending on how high-risk they are.
Destinations on the “green list” will have high vaccination rates and low case numbers, as well as low instances of variants of concern.
Those on the “red list” will be nations with high rates of such variants, including the South African and Brazilian strains of the virus.
How will the traffic light system work?
The lists will be decided based on the following criteria:
The percentage of a country’s population that have been vaccinated
The rate of infection
The prevalence of variants of concern
The country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing
Here are the rules that will be in place for each list:
Green: arrivals will need to take a pre-departure test as well as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on or before day two of their arrival back into the UK – but will not need to quarantine on return (unless they receive a positive result) or take any additional tests
Amber: arrivals will need to quarantine for a period of 10 days and take a pre-departure test, as well as a PCR test on day two and day eight. There will be the option to take an additional test on day five to end self-isolation early
Red: arrivals will be subject to restrictions currently in place for red list countries which include a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, pre-departure testing and mandatory PCR testing on day two and eight
PCR tests must be booked through one of the Government’s approved providers.
The Government has been looking at ways to reduce the price of testing, with PCR tests generally costing around £120-160.
In recent weeks, some of these prices have been slashed, the UK’s largest provider Randox announcing it would cut its offerings to £60 for international travellers.
“We will work with the travel industry and private testing providers ahead of international travel reopening, to see how we can further reduce the cost of travel for the British public, while ensuring travel is as safe as possible,” a Government spokesperson said.
“This could include cheaper tests being used when holidaymakers return home, as well as whether the Government would be able to provide pre-departure tests.”
Under England’s lockdown roadmap, international travel is banned until at least 17 May.
The final decision will not be made until closer to that date, but a spokesperson for Boris Johnson has previously suggested: “There is nothing in the data that suggests we need to change the dates.”
Flights to Portugal soar ahead of Friday's green list announcement
The demand for flights to Portugal is on the rise - suggesting that many holidaymakers hope the summer hotspot will be on the government's green travel list when it is published on Friday.
British Airways is charging £530 for a flight from Heathrow to the Algarve on 17 May, which is when the ban on foreign holidays will be lifted for people in England.
Flying the same route two days earlier costs just £234.
A Ryanair flight from Stansted to Portugal's capital Lisbon on the day overseas leisure travel restarts is £152, compared with £15 on 16 May.
EasyJet is charging £234 for a flight from Luton to the Algarve on 17 May, but just £73 the next day.
Airlines increase prices in line with demand, indicating that many holidaymakers are hoping Portugal is categorised as a low-risk destination for coronavirus.
Around 2.5 million British nationals visited the country in 2019.
Key points 6 May 2021
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Flights to Portugal soar ahead of Friday's green list announcement (17.47 post)
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