In new UK travel restrictions announced yesterday, Portugal will move to the amber list from Tuesday.
The move from the Green List to the Amber list means UK tourists should not travel to Portugal. Those returning from Portugal later than Tuesday will have to isolate for 10 days. Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, said the decision is to prevent the Covid mutation and rising cases in Portugal from coming to the UK. It is not a risk ministers are willing to take with the next ease of restrictions due on June 21st.
Positive cases in Portugal are increasing rapidly, almost doubling since the last travel review. On the 2nd June, Portugal had 5.4 cases per 100,000 people. This is only slightly higher than the UK’s 5.1. The Department of Transport reports 68 cases of the new Delta variant has been identified, including the new Nepal variation.
The change in Portugal’s status is causing chaos as holidaymakers desperately try to get back into the country before Tuesday. A tweet from Portugal’s Cabinet of Minister of State shows that it is not just holiday goers who are struggling with the decision. He tweeted that Portugal carry’s out a “prudent and gradual deconfinement plan”
The latest review of travel restrictions see no new countries added to the green list, but seven have been added to the red list. The Green list will be reviewed again in another 28 days.
Airlines warn of “lost summer” as UK travel restrictions continue
The travel industry has accused the government of “moving the goalposts overnight” in criticism to the new move.
EasyJets Chief Executive says he does not understand the science as Portugal has similar infection rates as the UK. The rules, which countries have just four days to enforce, come as a massive blow to those “promised a waiting list to help plan”. John believes this decision cuts the UK off from the rest of the world.
Steve Heapy, the Chief Executive for Jet2, says they will not be restarting flights until July 1st. In a public statement they explains “they share all the concerns and disappointment from the Travel Industry and customers.
Charlie Cornish of Manchester Airports Group says the new move shows “the Government does not trust its own system”. He believes the travel industry is a “scapegoat” in the new move as airlines face longer delays in returning to normality.
In justification of the new move, Transport Secretary Mr Shapps, says two new areas of concern moulded the Governments decision. One is the rapid increase in positive cases of the new variant in Portugal. Secondly, is the Nepal variant of the Indian Variant. This variant is immune to the vaccine and, currently, the Government simply don’t want to risk the fourth stage of unlock.
The UK reported 12, 341 cases of the Delta Variant up to June 2nd. According to Public Health England (PHE), this is a 79% increase from last week.
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