Ministers Put Together To Add Malta And Lbiza To Tour 'Green List' Amid Cabinet Row Over Dropping 'Amber List' Policies For Double-Jabbed
Ministers are making ready to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic islands and Malta today amid a Cabinet row over dropping 'amber list' policies for the double jabbed.
The list of locations where quarantine-free travel is allowed is set to be accelerated at a crunch meeting, in a glimmer of hope for would-be holidaymakers.
Plans to drop 'amber list' restrictions for the double jabbed will additionally be regarded - with a Cabinet split emerging over how soon it should happen. Boris Johnson stated this morning that his views on the issue are currently 'unformed', in a sturdy hint there will be no final decision today.
However, even if the policies are loosened it will be of restricted use as Britons still face challenging curbs imposed by other countries - who are alarmed at the spike in infections triggered by the Indian, or Delta, variant.
Angela Merkel last night urged all EU states to follow Germany's lead by requiring travellers from the UK to quarantine.
'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,' she informed the Bundestag.
But Environment Secretary George Eustice stated Mrs Merkel's stance was 'unjustified'. 'I'm not sure that such an approach would be justified given the pretty advanced stage we are presently at now in terms of vaccination, with eighty per cent having had one jab and now 60 per cent having had the second jab,' he informed LBC radio.
'I do not assume such a move would be justified but obviously it is for individual countries to make these judgments.'
More than 5 million Brits visit Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca in a normal year. Scientists have signed off on declaring the Balearics secure enough for the green list, which would be a welcome relief for the tour industry.
However, there are lingering fears that the Government could overrule the advice, as it did when Malta was put ahead for approval last month.
If there is agreement, tourists could be capable to travel as quickly as next Tuesday without isolating for up to 10 days on return.
Turkey is anticipated to remain on the red list, which could additionally see the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uganda added whilst Israel could move from green to amber.
There are also reports that the number of costly tests needed by returning holidaymakers will be slashed.