BORIS Johnson has warned he won’t hesitate to move countries from the green list to the red one – and it’s feared even Portugal’s rating may change.
The PM refused to be drawn on whether experts would add any more countries to the green list when they update it tomorrow.
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Currently, it’s expected that eight more countries will be added to the green list this week – while four will be added to the red list.
However, there are fears Portugal could be shifted off the list amid concerns over a new mutation, believed to have originated in Nepal.
Ministers and experts will meet today to make the decision on whether it should instead be an amber list country.
Scientists from the Joint Biosecurity Centre are reportedly concerned about rising infection rates and the emergence of variants in the holiday hotspot.
Portugal was the first of 12 countries and territories to be rated green just three weeks ago.
Asked whether there may be more countries added to the green list soon, the PM said: “You’ve got to wait and see what the Joint Biosecurity Centre say and what the recommendations are about travel.
“We’re going to try… to allow people to travel, as I know that many people want to, but we’ve got to be cautious and we’ve got to continue to put countries on the red list, on the amber list, when that is necessary.
“We will have no hesitation in moving countries to the red list, to the amber list, if we have to do so.
“The priority is to continue the vaccine rollout, to protect the people of this country.”
Travel expert Paul Charles believes that both the Canary and the Balearic Islands in Spain could be added, along with Malta and Morocco.
But some sources say additions to the list will be “extremely limited” as a result of concern over the Nepal strain and the slower rollout of vaccines across Europe.
It means holidays in Europe may be restricted until August.
Ministers reportedly believe that’s the month there’ll be a huge reboot for travel abroad.
Mainland Spain is likely to remain on the amber list until July 20.
And millions of Brits heading abroad were warned of carnage due to the chaotic testing facilities.
Families have found themselves paying hundreds of pounds extra after their mandatory Covid test results didn’t arrive in time to go home.
Which? Travel Editor Rory Boland advised families to book package holidays with tour operators who offer Covid tests, as they will then let you move your holiday if the result doesn’t arrive in time.
However, he added: “But that’s not a given and will be no consolation to people who have fixed dates. The private testing system is already struggling, it will be carnage when people start travelling again.”
Scores of high-risk nations are currently on the Government’s travel red list.
Robert Boyle, a former BA strategist, said that he had looked at which countries might be added to the red list, based purely on Covid infection rates.
British holidaymakers are likely to be banned from flying to Bahrain, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Kuwait, he predicted.
There are currently 12 countries on the green list, which have a low rate of infections and a steady number of vaccinations being distributed.
Holidaymakers can jet off to those nations without the worry of quarantine restrictions, as foreign holidays have now restarted.
But passengers do have to take a test before they fly to prove they are Covid free, which can still add costs to holiday bills.
All of the countries on the green list are:
- Portugal
- Israel
- Singapore
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- Iceland
- Gibraltar
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascension Island
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