The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the list of green areas — and it is very short.COUNTRIES THAT GOT THE GREEN LIGHTAustralia New ZealandIsraelSingaporePortugalFalkland IslandsAscensionSt Helena Tristan da CunhaGibraltarFaroe Islands Iceland BruneiEuropean countries popular with British holiday makers such as France, Greece and Spain are not yet on the green list, meaning Brits will have to wait until at least 7 June to find out if they can go on holiday there this summer.Brits are advised not to book a destination on the amber list, just in case things get worse and it turns red.Flight prices to areas rumoured to be on the green list rocketed ahead of the announcement.Mr Shapps said that the announcement “marks the first step in our cautious return to international travel” but insisted the system would make sure “we don’t throw away the hard-fought gains we’ve all strived to earn this year.” He added: “This is a new way of doing things, and people should expect travel to be different this summer – with longer checks at the borders, as part of tough measures to prevent new strains of the virus entering the country and putting our fantastic vaccine rollout at risk.”Anyone travelling overseas and coming back to Britain will still have to take a pre-departure test up to 72 hours before they travel.Only green countries will be quarantine free, with Brits able to avoid self–isolating for 10 days on their return.Tests will still be required, with a pre-arrival test before returning to the UK, and a second test on day two.The next review is set to take place in three weeks after travel starts again on May 17 – so June 7.It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his medical advisers previously said they are “confident” the current coronavirus case data means they can push ahead for the 17 May unlocking milestone that will see a slow return to travel for leisure.Travel destinations will be ranked green, amber or red according to virus risk, Downing Street said in a statement.“We are doing everything we can to enable the reopening of our country … as safely as possible,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.The government said the new system “will help ensure the UK’s vaccine progress isn’t jeopardised and provide clear guidance for travellers”.AMBER COUNTRIESEuropean vacation favourites also popular with Brits, France, Spain, Greece and Italy, are likely to be heading for amber status.Other rumoured countries to make the amber list include Denmark, Cyprus and Turkey.Travellers from amber list countries will have to self-isolate at home for 10 days on their return. They will be required to take a COVID-19 test on day 8 after their return.There will be an option to pay for a test on day 5, under the test to release scheme, to end self-isolation early.RED COUNTRIESEntry by travellers from red list countries will continue to be outlawed, with anyone coming through those countries forced to quarantine at their own expense in a government-approved hotel when they arrive. They will be required to take a COVID-19 test on day 8 after their return.There are approximately 40 countries on the red list released by the UK government, including India, which logged 400,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day on Friday, local time, is on the red list.Turkey, Nepal and the Maldives are likely to be relegated to the red list, Mr Shapps said.— With The Sun
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