Travel update – live: No countries added to red list in latest review despite rising Covid rates across Europe
More countries’ vaccines recognised in latest update
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK government has confirmed that no countries will be added to the currently empty red list for travel.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the decision in the Department for Transport’s (DfT) latest review of the lists on 18 November.
He tweeted: “TRAVEL UPDATE: there will be no countries or territories added to the red list. We will continue to keep all measures under review.”
However, there was one change: a further 15 countries’ vaccines will now be recognised by the UK, widening the pool of potential inbound travellers.
Shapps added: “Proof of vaccination will be recognised from 15 more countries and territories including Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Senegal and Zimbabwe, another boost for business and leisure travel.”
The changes will come into effect at 4am on Monday 22 November.
In other news, several countries across Europe are re-imposing local Covid restrictions - including ski and winter-break favourites Austria and the Czech Republic - after seeing their highest case figures since the pandemic began.
Follow the latest travel news below:
Disney Cruise Line first to require full vaccination for children aged 5+
Disney Cruise Line has become the first major cruise operator to insist on fully vaccinated status for passengers as young as five.
The cruise arm of the animation giant quietly updated its online rules on Wednesday to say that from 13 January, all passengers aged five and over must be fully vaccinated “as defined by the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)” at the date of departure.
The CDC defines a fully vaccinated person as someone who received their second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or the first dose of a one-dose vaccine, two weeks ago or more.
Read the full story:
Disney’s cruise line is first to require vaccines for all children 5+
The US operator is first cruise company to do so
What do the new HS2 and HS3 rail plans means for passengers?
The prime minister says the government’s Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) constitutes “the biggest transport investment programme in a century”.
Boris Johnson claims it will deliver “meaningful transport connections for more passengers across the country, more quickly”.
He says: “With both high-speed journeys and better local services, it will ensure no town or city is left behind.”
The government has promised “journey times which are the same as, similar to or faster than the original HS2 and Leeds-Manchester proposals”.
The Independent has analysed the plans:
What do the new HS2 and HS3 rail plans means for passengers?
Government promises faster journey times to and from Derby and Nottingham
No countries to be added to red list
As expected, no countries will be added to the UK’s red list in the latest review.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the move, tweeting: “TRAVEL UPDATE: there will be no countries or territories added to the red list. We will continue to keep all measures under review.”
However, the government is increasing the number of countries whose vaccines are recognised by the UK; 15 destinations have been added to the approved list, including Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
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