Lockdown easing: Should you be booking your summer holiday?
Foreign travel for leisure purposes is currently illegal in the UK
You can now go shopping, get a haircut or meet your friends in a pub garden, but one of the things that is still not allowed under the Covid-19 restrictions in England is foreign travel.
With summer on the horizon people are starting to think about holidays, but with foreign travel off the cards until 17th May at the earliest, when exactly will we be allowed to organise a trip away?
This week the EU revealed that it planned to reopen its borders to visitors from countries with low rates of Covid-19 from the beginning of June, offering hope to some Brits.
We'll have to wait for more confirmation from the government about if, when and where we'll be able to go abroad, but here's what we know so far.
Here's what we know so far about foreign travel this summer:
Will I be able to go abroad this summer?
Foreign travel for leisure purposes is currently illegal in the UK. This will be the case until 17th May at the earliest, when the Government could lift restrictions to permit overseas travel.
Where will I be able to go?
The UK Government has announced they'll use a traffic light system to show which destinations will require quarantine.
Green countries: Travellers coming from countries on the green list will have to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test upon arrival but will not be required to quarantine.
Amber countries: Travellers coming from amber countries will also have to take a pre-departure test, as well as one upon arrival and eight days after arrival. You will also have to self-isolate for 10 days.
Red countries: Travellers arriving from red countries will be tested and will have to pay to isolate in a hotel.
Am I going to need a 'vaccine passport'?
Holidaymakers visiting most popular foreign destinations will be required to show evidence that they have been vaccinated, received a recent negative test or have coronavirus antibodies.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has previously said the NHS app will be able to display evidence that someone in England has been vaccinated or tested. However, Downing Street has since admitted that the app may not be ready by the time foreign holidays resume.
Should I book now?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the Government will take a cautious approach to reopening foreign travel. He said that he expected there to be "some openings up on the 17th" but warned that "we have got to be cautious and we have got to be sensible and we have got to make sure that we don't see the virus coming back in."
Countries including Greece and Turkey have said that they aim to welcome UK tourists this summer, but the question remains over whether foreign holidays will be feasible or even legal for British visitors.
The government has said it will make announcements soon, including which countries are on the green, amber and red lists.
Which countries plan to welcome UK tourists?
The EU has said that it plans to open its borders to holidaymakers from countries with low levels of Covid-19 from early June.
It said that Israel would be included on the list, which has sparked hope among people in the UK, where the vaccine rollout has seen success similar to that in Israel.
Although the EU at large is hoping to welcome visitors, some countries have individually announced their plans to relaunch the tourism trade.
Here are some holiday destinations planning to welcome UK tourists this year:
Greece
Greece hopes to welcome UK tourists from as early as May. Visitors will have to be vaccinated, have had a recent negative test or have the Covid-19 antibodies.
Turkey
UK travellers heading to Turkey are unlikely to be required to provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccine or a negative test result. Instead, Turkish ministers have said they are working with the UK Government to ensure travelling to and from the country is Covid secure.
Cyprus
Cyprus will also welcome UK tourists this summer as long as they have had both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
P&O ferry cruises
Ferry company P&O has said that holidaymakers will have to provide proof that they have had two doses of the vaccine. If holidaymakers fail to provide evidence they will not be allowed on board the staycation cruises.