Croatia is quarantined as Portugal gets all-clear
20,000 Britons in Balkans face race to beat 4am deadline
HOLIDAYMAKERS who go to Portugal will no longer have to self- isolate after returning to Britain after it was removed from the Government’s quarantine list – and replaced with Croatia.
Austria and Trinidad and Tobago were also added to the ‘red’ list due to rising numbers of Covid cases.
Croatia’s total over seven days – a metric closely watched by Downing Street – has risen to 27.4 per 100,000 people.
The estimated 20,000 Britons currently in the Balkan country have until 4am tomorrow to return before the changes come into effect. Those who arrive after this deadline will have to spend 14 days under stricter measures than many faced in lockdown, as they are not even allowed to go outside for exercise or food shopping.
Portugal has been given a clean bill of health, however, following months on the quarantine list.
Its number of cases over seven days is now 14.6 per 100,000 people. It remains above Greece, on 14.3, and the UK on 11.2.
The Government’s quarantine threshold is said to be 20.
Yesterday’s changes mean thousands of families could now enjoy a last-minute summer holiday in the Algarve, Lisbon or Porto before pupils return to school next month. There are 719 flights between the UK and Portugal with a total seat capacity of nearly 128,000, according to aviation data analysts Cirium. Despite the easing of some restrictions, industry leaders warned of dark times ahead. Christopher Snelling of the Airport Operators’ Association said: ‘The removal of the quarantine for Portugal is welcome, but the reintroduction of blanket quarantine measures to a further tranche of nations reinforces the significant and continuing challenge facing the aviation industry.
‘Our airports are facing pressures that were unimaginable six months ago and the Government must work urgently with the industry to introduce regional travel corridors to low-risk areas and agree financial measures that support our airports, who have already lost over £2billion since the start of the pandemic.’
The addition of more holiday hotspots to the red list will also pile pressure on ministers to back virus testing at airports to cut down on the need to self-isolate.
Heathrow this week unveiled a multimillion- pound Covid- 19 detection area which is capable of testing thousands of arrivals.
However, the facility cannot be used until ministers endorse airport testing as a viable alternative to a blanket 14- day quarantine. Heathrow chief John Holland-Kaye warned the travel sector – and wider economy – would enter ‘terminal decline’ unless the Government changes its approach.
Yesterday’s update means the Foreign Office now advises against all but essential travel to Croatia, Trinidad and Tobago and Austria. The changes followed a meeting with the UK’s devolved administrations which saw Scotland added Switzerland to its own quarantine list. The country is currently on 18.1 cases per 100,000 people, meaning travellers from England and Wales may soon be ordered to self-isolate if the figure keeps rising.
France, Germany and Italy all saw their biggest daily increase in cases since spring this week, adding to fears of a second wave.
The Government has pledged to take ‘decisive action’ to contain coronavirus, including the rapid removal of countries from its list of so-called ‘air bridges’.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote on Twitter yesterday: ‘Please be aware that things can change quickly. Only travel if you are content to unexpectedly 14-day quarantine if required... I speak from experience!’
Spain was added to the red list a day after Mr Shapps flew there for a family holiday last month – prompting him to fly home early to beat the quarantine cut-off.
‘Things can change quickly’