- The key dates on the travel roadmap
- Is it legal to go on an ‘amber list’ holiday?
- The latest rules on hotel stays
- Sign up to the Telegraph Travel newsletter
Britain’s favourite summer holiday destinations are unlikely to make the green list at next month’s ’traffic lights’ review.
Spain, France, Italy and Greece were hoped to get the go-ahead for quarantine-free travel on June 7, but the Telegraph understands this won’t be the case until the following round of changes, due to be announced on June 28.
Instead, Boris Johnson has privately told MPs that “quite a few” other countries are on the cusp of turning green early next month; Malta, Grenada, Cayman Islands, Fiji, British Virgin Islands and Finland among them – as well as Caribbean islands thought to include Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Turks and Caicos and Anguilla.
The EU this week agreed it would allow vaccinated non-EU holidaymakers to visit the bloc this summer, but not until later in June – and no word yet on whether that will include visitors from the UK.
Spain has already announced, however, that inoculated Britons will be welcomed sooner, within weeks.
Scroll down for more of the latest
Hungary to lift most remaining curbs, PM confirms
Hungary will lift most remaining Covid-19 curbs, including a night-time curfew, as soon as the number of those vaccinated reaches a milestone of 5 million this weekend, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told radio on Friday.
Mr Orban said masks would no longer be needed in public places, and gatherings of up to 500 people can be held in the open air. Also allowed will be weddings with up to 200 people in attendance.
Credit:
Shutterstock
The US could join the UK’s green list within weeks
The USA could be eligible for the UK‘s green list on June 7, according to the latest figures on incoming passengers.
Internal data seen by The Telegraph shows just five of 1,652 visitors from the US tested on days two or eight were positive – and none for variants, reports Charles Hymas. Its infection rate, at 35 per 100,000 of the population, and its double vaccination rate of 38.2 per cent, put it on a par with the UK.
It is likely, however, that the US would have to lift its ban on non-essential travel to and from the UK as part of a bilateral agreement, which may not be agreed in time.
Will Britain make the EU’s ‘white list’?
The EU has formally approved plans to allow vaccinated travellers from a ‘white list’ of non-bloc countries restriction-free entry.
This would see member states adopt uniform rules, giving fully-inoculated holidaymakers from low-risk countries access to Spain, France, Italy and other popular destinations.
It would, however, create a system that would see the rest of the bloc accept passengers based on vaccination status while the UK confers no such status on those who have had the jab and instead requires testing or quarantine for all returning holidaymakers.
Britain is hoped to make the EU’s white list, but there has been speculation that fears over the Indian variant could hinder its position.
We should find out for sure today – stay tuned.
10 things to do on a rainy holiday in the UK
We are about to witness the return of the infamous Rainy Day Plan, says Chris Leadbetter, who has some suggestions this morning as to how you can avoid getting stuck in a big British wash-out.
Starting with…
Tower Bridge (020 7403 3761; towerbridge.org.uk; £10.60), which has been fast to market itself as “London’s only major dog-friendly attraction.”
Credit:
Olivia Dixon
PM backs plan for global pandemic ‘radar’ to track new infections
Boris Johnson has pledged Britain’s support for a new global surveillance network to spot emerging diseases before they can cause fresh pandemics.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is leading work to develop the “global pandemic radar” to monitor and track new infections and variants.
The UK and the British-based Wellcome Trust are among the nations and other organisations supporting the initiative.
Speaking ahead of a global health summit hosted by Italy and the EU on Friday, Mr Johnson said ensuring the world was better prepared for future health threats was an “absolute priority” for the UK’s G7 presidency, stating:
The world must never be caught unawares again by a virus spreading among us unchecked.
We need to build a system of disease surveillance fit for the 21st century, with real-time data-sharing and rapid genomic sequencing and response.
A global pandemic radar will ensure that we are vigilant to new variants and emerging pathogens, and can rapidly develop the vaccines and treatments needed to stop them in their tracks.
Could the Spanish and Greek islands make the green list sooner?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has previously indicated that European holiday islands with low rates of Covid could be treated separately from their mainland, which would put destinations including the Canaries, Balearics and Cyclades back on the map for Britons.
According to the latest intel, ministers have now ordered a separate risk assessment of the Spanish and Greek islands which means they could be opened up before the mainland.
However, the most recent analysis still puts these regions on the amber list, requiring returning travellers to quarantine for 10 days, Charles Hymas reports.
What happened yesterday?
A quick re-cap of yesterday’s top stories
- British holidaymakers must be patient, says Grant Shapps
- Restrict travel to stop variants spread, says SAGE member
- Northern Ireland agrees holiday green list
- Government announces the return of Great British Railways
- UK passport holders ‘to be asked for proof of accommodation’ to enter France post-Brexit
- Bahrain to ban unvaccinated youths from public areas