COSTA DEL HOL
Brits will be able to go on holiday to favourite European hotspots WITHOUT quarantines from July 6 after U-turn
ALL of Europe is poised to be opened up to summer-holiday Brits under a “traffic light” ranking system of other countries’ coronavirus risk.
“Green” and “amber” nations will no longer require returning travellers to face a 14-day quarantine.
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The Sun has learned the two colours cover every Europe nation — allowing sunseekers to fly off to favourite holiday hotspots Spain, Greece and France.
Only those flying to “red” countries — Covid hotspots such as the US, Brazil and India — will self-isolate on return.
The move unofficially signals an end to the idea of “air bridges” between our closest nations who already allow Brits in without quarantine.
The measures could come in on July 6 — two days after other lockdown limits are lifted, on “Super Saturday” July 4.
Officials are still working on final details. A government source said: “What we don’t want is people booking just yet while details are being worked out.”
Travel association ABTA hailed the news as “encouraging”.
A spokesman added: “Confirmation of the list of countries is eagerly anticipated by the travel industry, and should encourage customers to book.
“The blanket Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel is still a major impediment, and we look forward to the Government adopting a similar risk-based approach to that advice.”
The expected U-turn comes three weeks after the Government said all returning Brits, and visitors to the UK, must quarantine for 14 days.
Paul Charles, of pressure group Quash Quarantine, blasted government delays.
He said: “The reality is the Government has abandoned air bridges for this traffic-light system. This symbolises the made-up policy, lack of visibility and a lack of clarity which is hurting our industry every day. Why are decisions being pushed back further?
“It’s not giving the industry a chance to recover. July is ebbing away in terms of bookings, half the summer is gone, and the longer this goes on there will inevitably be more job losses.
“The travel industry is still flying through fog with this announcement and the visibility is simply not there.”
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The traffic light system has been drawn up by the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England.
It is based on factors including the prevalence of the virus in a destination country, the UK Government’s confidence in the reliability of its data and the trajectory of the disease there.
Greece, Germany and Croatia are poised to make the “green” list, along with Barbados, Thailand and Vietnam.
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France, Spain, Italy will be rated medium risk “amber”.
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The Foreign Office will continue to advise against all non-essential travel to the red-light nations.
For all three lights, every passenger arriving in the UK will still have to fill out the “passenger locator form” to track any potential virus outbreaks.
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