Ireland: Simon Calder on 'super green' travel rules

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The traffic light system was introduced earlier this year to provide clarity for travellers. However, the green list, which allows for quarantine-free travel abroad, has caused chaos for many holidaymakers, as countries have often been removed from the list at short notice. As England unlocked its final lockdown restrictions earlier this month, many are hopeful more countries will be added to the travel green list at the next review.

When is the next travel update?

Approximately every three weeks, the Government is reviewing the travel traffic light system.

At these review points, countries may move onto the green, amber or red list, depending on their COVID-19 situation.

The Department for Transport said previously: “These regular review points will allow the Government to balance helping the public to understand Covid requirements when travelling to England while allowing us to constantly evaluate the risk for different countries.”

Over the last few months, the update has normally been given by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on a Thursday.

However, the date was brought forward by a day at the last review, which was held on Wednesday, July 14.

Changes announced on July 14 were not brought into effect until 4am on Monday, July 19.

Based on precedent, the next review of the traffic light system could take place on either Wednesday, August 4 or Thursday, August 5.

Which countries could go green at the next review?

Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency, tweeted in mid-July that Italy, Canada, Germany and Poland could fit the criteria to be added to the green list.

Mr Charles tweeted that all four nations “have very low test positivity” below one percent, meaning the countries should be green.

Mr Charles told the Telegraph this week 14 countries could possibly turn green at the next review, including Austria, Bosnia, Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia and Slovenia. 

But with regards to Italy, the Mirror reported this week that Italy could lose its amber list status and become an “amber plus” country.

Despite relatively low rates of Covid infection in the region, cases have started to rise recently, which may prompt the Government to introduce stricter restrictions.

The exact criteria for the Government’s traffic light system are not always clear, so anyone hoping to travel will have to wait for the next review announcement to know exactly which countries will be green listed.

DON’T MISS:
Passports: Government remove online checker amid travel ‘carnage’ [ANALYSIS]
Cost of hotel quarantine set to rise to £2,250 [INSIGHT]
Do children need a PCR test to travel? [EXPLAINER]

What other changes could there be at the next review?

Recent changes to the amber list rules mean fully vaccinated people no longer have to self-isolate for 10 days after arriving back to England from an amber list country.

But even though France is on the amber list, these rules do not apply, and anyone visiting France will have to self-isolate for 10 days after arriving back, regardless of vaccination status.

Some reports have suggested France could be removed from the ‘amber plus’ list, as officials think the Beta variant threat has been contained.

Some reports have also suggested that Greece and the Balearics could be added to the “amber plus” list.

Although Turkey’s Covid cases were relatively low at the beginning of July, the numbers have started to rise again.

Turkey has been on the red list since May 12 due to the spread of the Delta variant in the region, however, now the Delta variant is considered the UK’s most dominant strain, the Government may opt to move Turkey to the amber list at the next review.

There are also several countries on the ‘green watchlist’ which could be moved to green or amber at the next review date.

Source: Read Full Article