It’s been three weeks since Transport Minister Grant Shapps caused widespread anger in the travel industry with changes to the Green/Amber/Red Lists. Let’s see what counties have made it on the list this week… and which ones go on the red list.
It’s a big change list – to put it mildly. Let’s start at the top.
Countries/Regions being added to the Green List
Europe
- The Spanish Balearic Islands (which include Ibiza, Menorca, Majorca and Formentera),
- Malta
- Madeira
Caribbean
- Antigua,
- Barbados
- Barbuda
- Dominica
- Grenada
UK overseas territories
- Anguilla and Montserrat
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- The British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Pitcairn
- The Turks and Caicos Islands.
This goes into effect at 4 am on Wednesday 30th June
Arrivals after this point will no longer be subject to amber list regulations and not required to quarantine. Arrivals will still need to take a COVID-19 test before travel and ensure they complete a COVID-19 test by day 2 of their arrival in England.
Note that all countries listed (except Malta) are on a “Green Watch List”, indicating they could move back to Amber status at any time. Israel and Jerusalem have also been added to this list. As such, apply caution when booking, as you may have to move quickly if the country changes status.
And as usual, check that the territory or country you plan to enter, along with any requirements to enter.
Countries that are moving from the Amber List
- None
Countries/Regions being added to the Red List
- Dominican Republic
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Mongolia
- Tunisia
- Uganda.
This goes into effect at 4 am on Wednesday 30th June. Travellers from Red List Counties must take a COVID-19 test before travel and book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests. A completed passenger locator form is mandatory too. On arrival in England, you must quarantine in a managed hotel, including 2 COVID-19 tests.
Where are the official notices?
As usual for this excuse of a government, this was leaked somewhat beforehand with the government putting a release eventually at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-travel-update-malta-added-to-green-list-and-green-watchlist-extended-as-plans-for-quarantine-free-travel-for-fully-vaccinated-passengers-from-ambe
What are the reasons for this week’s changes?
Copied word for word:
All classification changes have been decided by ministers, informed by the latest data and analysis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and wider public health considerations, to help the public understand the risks to public health of travelling to different destinations. All measures announced today are designed to give travellers and the travel sector more certainty, will be kept under review, and further action may be taken to protect public health.
What about those who are vaccinated against COVID-19?
We seem to finally have some traction for those who have completed their COVID-19 courses of vaccination. In full:
In recognition of our successful domestic vaccination programme, and as part of the Global Travel Taskforce’s checkpoint review, our intention is that later in the summer, arrivals who are fully vaccinated will not have to quarantine when travelling from amber list countries. We expect this to occur in phases, starting with UK residents. They will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a test on day 2, and any positive results will be sequenced to continue to manage the risk of importing variants.
At the same time, we intend to remove the guidance that people should not travel to amber countries. Pending decisions on whether under-18s should routinely be offered vaccination, we will also take clinical advice on whether regular testing can provide a safe alternative to quarantine for children accompanied by vaccinated adults.
Further detail will be set out next month including the rules which will apply to children and those unable to be vaccinated, how we will operationalise this approach at the border, and the dates on which these changes will come into effect.
We’ve got a wait, but it seems that rules for those who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel to amber list countries without a care in the world soon enough. However, there will be a wait.
Of course – just because you can travel, it doesn’t mean a country has to let you into it. With the rise in Delta variant cases, travel could become more interesting than not shortly.
What are the requirements of entry into England and Wales from a Green/Amber/Red List Country?
Any arrival to the UK will require at least a passenger locator form completed, a pre-departure test and a PCR test post-arrival on or before day 2.
Arrivals from Amber or Red List countries will need to quarantine – either at home (Amber) or in a managed facility (Red). Both require additional PCR Tests on day 8.
The full procedures are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england
When will the next review be announced?
In three weeks time – 15th July – all things being equal. There will also be a “checkpoint” review of the rules for each category on Monday 28 June.
In Quotes
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
We’re moving forward with efforts to safely reopen international travel this summer, and thanks to the success of our vaccination programme, we’re now able to consider removing the quarantine period for fully vaccinated UK arrivals from amber countries – showing a real sign of progress.
It’s right that we continue with this cautious approach, to protect public health and the vaccine rollout as our top priority, while ensuring that our route out of the international travel restrictions is sustainable.
Are airlines and the travel industry still angry?
Checking my press releases, easyJet isn’t happy still. I’ll be diving into their thoughts in the morning, as well as how others react. Others are still demanding more destinations to be opened.
It’s not a perfect move, but it opens more quarantine-free travel options for those who want to get away – no matter how many minsters think you should be holidaying at home this year.
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