Portugal to be added to UK "Amber" list

Portugal is being removed from the UK's green travel list.

From next Tuesday, it's being upgraded to "amber" after what the government say is a rise in cases there, and signs of a mutation of the so-called Indian variant.

It means anyone returning to the UK from Portugal or other amber list countries must self-isolate at home for 10 days as part of coronavirus restrictions.

The move was confirmed following a meeting between the Joint Bio-Security Centre, Westminster and devolved governments.

No other countries were added to the green list. Seven countries - Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago have been added to the red list.

Holidaymakers with big questions

Many holidaymakers in Portugal face a scramble for flights home before the move is introduced.

All changes to the lists will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday June 8.

It has left many travellers frustrated, many already in Portugal, or those due to fly soon.

Portugal had become the 2021 destination of choice

The Government's decision is a huge blow for the travel industry, as Portugal was the only viable major tourist destination on the green list when it was announced last month.

Portugal's seven-day rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people stands at 37.2, up from 30.7 a week earlier.

It's understood there will be no countries or destinations added to the green list on Thursday, despite speculation that Spanish and Greek islands and Malta could be added.

Travel Consultancy CEO Paul Charles told us: "This move by the government defies logic, because there are some countries that meet the government's criteria to go on the green list.

"So by not adding countries on to green, and putting Portugal on to amber threatens recovery across aviation and the wider travel sector, and that means, sadly, jobs and livelihoods are more at risk than ever."

Labour: "The Amber list should be scrapped"

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary said:

“The U.K. Government have caused chaos with the mishandling of travel restrictions at the border.

“The confusion over the ‘Amber List’ has led to reports of over 50,000 people travelling to the UK daily, with only a tiny percentage going into hotel quarantine and a stream of flights entering the UK from ‘Amber List’ countries. Labour has warned time and time again that this is leaving the door wide open to new strains of the virus.

“Moving Portugal onto the ‘Amber List’ is not the answer. The ‘Amber List’ itself should be scrapped. Ministers also now need a clear plan to manage the confusion that will result in Portugal being removed from the ‘Green List’ so quickly and must publish all of the data behind this decision.”

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