Traffic light system for holidays in Europe

Go-ahead for France and Spain as countries are placed in categories according to risk

SUMMER holidays to countries including France, Spain and Greece have been given the go-ahead under a government traffic light system that will scrap quarantine for dozens of destinations.

But holidaymakers have been warned that a sudden outbreak of coronavirus during their trip will mean the immediate reintroduction of quarantine, forcing them to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return.

The Government plans to publish a list of up to 50 countries next week where there will be “air bridges” exempting arrivals to the UK from quarantine. The Foreign Office will change its advice to allow travel, with the flyaway date for holidays likely to be Monday, July 6.

In place of quarantine, there will be a traffic light system, with officials placing countries into green, amber and red categories based on the prevalence of coronavirus, whether infections are rising and the reliability of the country’s data.

Only passengers arriving into the UK from nations in the red category, where the spread of coronavirus is deemed to be high, will be told to self-isolate for two weeks.

The announcement comes ahead of a week in which the Prime Minister will try to focus the nation’s minds on coming out of lockdown and building a post-covid economy.

On Tuesday he is expected to make a speech in the north of England setting out his plan for getting the country out of the deepest recession in generations. The key themes will be jobs, health and homes, and Mr Johnson will unveil a programme of infrastructure projects, including the 40 new hospitals he promised.

He will announce plans to invest billions in deprived areas to deliver on his manifesto promise to “level up” Britain, including major road and rail schemes that will create jobs. He believes that by providing the transport links and infrastructure that have been lacking in many towns he will encourage private investment in homes and start-up businesses.

The former “red wall” constituencies won from Labour at the last election will receive a large chunk of the money, which is likely to be financed through borrowing.

The Prime Minister hopes his speech will put him firmly back on the front foot after months of crisis management because of the virus.

The text is being finalised this weekend with Dominic Cummings, his chief aide, and Munira Mirza, his policy chief. It is said to have the working title “build, build, build”.

The speech will be followed on Wednesday by the announcement of the full list of countries exempt from quarantine, and then by an update on

how the Government will reopen all schools in September, finally enabling parents to return to their workplaces.

France, Greece and Spain were the only countries the Government named last night as likely to have travel corridors, or air bridges.

However, it is thought most Western European nations including Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, some Caribbean states and other “low risk” island nations will be named next week.

Portugal is excluded because of an outbreak in and around Lisbon, although the country’s epidemiologists are challenging the UK assessment. Sweden is also excluded. However, a government source confirmed the traffic light status could change at any time.

And the rules on travelling abroad will come with tighter measures. Government sources said all passengers would be required by law to wear face coverings on planes and ferries.

Sun-seekers so far denied the chance to go abroad have instead been flocking to Britain’s beaches, something that prompted a “major incident” to be declared in Bournemouth this week.

Mr Johnson yesterday warned against a repeat of such scenes this weekend: “If you look at what’s happening elsewhere in the world where people have been coming out of lockdown, I’m afraid what you’re also seeing is people taking too many liberties with the guidance, mingling too much, not observing social distancing.

“You may think you’re not going to get it and you’re immortal and invincible and so on… but the bug you carry

‘What you’re seeing is people taking too many liberties, mingling too much, not observing social distancing’

can kill elderly people. It’s still dangerous. The virus is still out there.”

The Government acknowledged many people might not yet choose to travel but it said its “cautious change” would help travellers avoid quarantine and provide a “vital lifeline” for the travel industry.

Additions to the list of 50 or so countries could come before the next review of the policy, due in three weeks, although it is thought more likely it would be at the end of July.