Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Green list of quarantine-free countries to be expanded, Grant Shapps says

Portugal is the only mainstream holiday destination on the green list

Cathy Adams
Thursday 20 May 2021 10:52 BST
Comments
A wooden footbridge leads to the beach at Praia do Camilo in Portugal’s Algarve region
A wooden footbridge leads to the beach at Praia do Camilo in Portugal’s Algarve region (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The “green list” is to expand, the transport secretary said this morning.

International travel was given the official nod to resume from Monday 17 May, to a slender list of 12 “safe” destinations.

The only mainstream holiday destination of it is Portugal.

When asked on Radio 4’s Today programme whether he was pushing for the green list to be expanded, Grant Shapps replied: “yes of course”.

He added: “We’re reviewing this all the time, every three weeks. The next review is the first week in June and we’ll have to see what happens.”

Mr Shapps added: “Our message is very straightforward, which is ‘just a little bit of patience, everyone’.

“I know it’s been an incredibly tough year and there are extreme circumstance where people will feel that it is the right thing to do - perhaps because they have a sick family member and some extreme situations where they’ll travel in the orange category.

For all the latest travel news and expert advice sign up to Simon Calder’s free weekly newsletter by clicking here

“But by and large we are just asking people to be a little bit patient as other countries catch up with our world-leading vaccination programme and then people will be able to, I hope, travel.

“We are returning to a world which looks more normal, I hope.”

Mr Shapps’ comments follow confusion about whether holidaymakers should travel to amber destinations.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “The amber list and the red list are not for holidaymakers, that’s not the purpose of those lists at this time.

“We just think that after a year of lockdowns in this country, of people coming forward in record numbers to get their vaccines, we do not want to be in a position of taking risks at this stage about our unlock.”

Arrivals from amber listed countries will need to self-isolate for 10 days, and take two PCR tests post-arrival into the UK. They will also need to present a negative lateral flow test on arrival into the UK.

Travel to amber and red destinations is not outlawed. The lists are intended as guidance only.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in