Malta and Balearic islands ‘are ready for green list’ after scientists declared them safe
Malta and Balearic islands ‘are ready for green list’: Government comes under increasing pressure to lift Covid travel curbs on two tourist hotspots after scientists declared them safe
- Ministers are under intense pressure to lift travel restrictions for Malta and the Balearic islands
- Sources say the Government’s Joint Biosecurity Centre has advised that Malta and the Balearic islands meet the criteria for safe travel
- Ministers are meeting this afternoon to decide whether to expand list of quarantine-free destinations
- Quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for the fully vaccinated will also be discussed at the meeting
Ministers are under intense pressure to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today after scientists declared them safe.
Tory MPs and travel industry figures said the decision on whether to expand the green list is a vital test of the Government’s willingness to save the summer holidays.
Ministers will meet this afternoon to decide whether to expand the list of destinations where quarantine-free travel is allowed.
They will also debate plans for quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for those who are fully vaccinated.
An ‘in principle’ decision could come as soon as today, but ministers are still wrangling over the start date.
Whitehall sources told the Mail the Government’s Joint Biosecurity Centre has advised that Malta and the Balearic islands meet the criteria for safe travel.
Opening up the Balearics is seen as a game changer as more than five million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year.
But there are fears that the Government could overrule the advice, as it did when Malta was put forward for approval last month.
Tourists could be able to travel as soon as next Tuesday without isolating for up to 10 days on return, the Times reported last night.
It said Turkey is set to remain on the red list, which could also see the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda added while Israel could move from green to amber.
There are also reports that the number of expensive tests needed by returning holidaymakers will also be slashed.
Ministers are under intense pressure to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today after scientists declared them safe. Pictured: The Maltese capital Valetta in May [File photo]
Tory MPs and travel industry figures said the decision on whether to expand the green list is a vital test of the Government’s willingness to save the summer holidays. Pictured: A beach on the Balearic Island of Formentera
Sources last night said there was also a danger that Israel could be moved from green to amber.
Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the Future of Aviation Group, said: ‘Frankly, these destinations should already be on the green list along with many others.
It is a nonsense that people are not able to travel freely to countries that have lower rates of infection than we do.’
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: ‘It’s now or never if we are to have any sort of summer season and the data shows this can be done safely and proportionately with many more countries being added to the list.
‘The future of our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports depends on it.’ Culture minister John Whittingdale hinted at positive news yesterday, saying: ‘Hopefully it will be possible to increase that number’ of countries on the green list. Green list status is only allocated to destinations that can show they have low Covid rates and no significant problems with variants of concern. They also have to show that they can monitor for new variants.
Government scientists advised last month that Malta could be added to the green list, only to be overruled by ministers led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Latest figures suggest infection rates on the island are less than half those in the UK.
Ministers are also close to an agreement on the plan to end quarantine requirements for the fully vaccinated. It is seen as the best chance for saving the travel sector this summer and would require travellers to prove their vaccination status either using the NHS app or with a paper record from their GP.
The Cabinet is split on the timing with some ministers favouring a July 9 start date and others wanting a more cautious approach.
A Government source said August is the most likely date but no final decision has been taken.
Make Britons isolate! Angela Merkel calls on EU nations to force UK travellers to quarantine because of high levels of Indian Covid variant
By David Churchill, Transport Correspondent for The Daily Mail
Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers’ plans to reopen foreign travel.
The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine.
Mrs Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament: ‘In our country, if you come from Great Britain you have to go into quarantine – and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see.’
Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers’ plans to reopen foreign travel. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the Second Berlin Conference on Libya, in Berlin, Germany on June 23, 2021
Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an ‘urgent humanitarian reason’ like a family death.
But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.
It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.
Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.
A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.
Mrs Merkel’s call came ahead of the Government today being expected to announce plans for fully vaccinated Britons to be able to visit amber countries without having to self-isolate for ten days on return.
The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine
It is expected to take effect in August, although some ministers are pushing for this to be brought forward to July 19. The move will effectively turn destinations that are amber into green for fully vaccinated people.
But if other European countries listen to Mrs Merkel’s call then UK holidaymakers’ options could be limited even further this summer.
Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine. France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.
But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent.
This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain.