Jamaica and Morocco ‘next to go on red list’

FOUR Caribbean and African holiday destinations are at risk of UK travel bans being imposed this week, sparking a scramble by holidaymakers to return to avoid hotel quarantine, an analysis suggests.

Jamaica, St Lucia, Dominica and Morocco have seen rising Covid rates that put them on course to be redlisted this week when Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, unveils the new traffic light ratings for the final days of summer.

The analysis by travel consultancy the PC Agency also indicates Covid rates in the Balearics and Spain are high enough to merit inclusion on a red list. But the researchers say they will not be added because of the travel chaos it would mean for Britons forced to rush back and the lack of hotels in the UK in which to quarantine them.

Israel’s fourth wave of coronavirus has also put it on the cusp of the red list despite its current rating as green. But the researchers again expect ministers to steer clear of such a dramatic move taking a country from green to red and say they will instead choose amber.

Five amber countries are expected to turn green because of declining Covid rates. They are Poland, Bhutan, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Saudi Arabia, according to the analysis, which is based on Covid infection rates, the proportion of tests coming back positive and the level of vaccination.

However, eight green countries including Israel are expected to turn amber, meaning anyone who is not vaccinated will have to race home before next Monday’s deadline to avoid being forced to quarantine for 10 days at home.

The other seven are popular holiday spots including Croatia and Madeira, and the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Antigua, and Turks and Caicos, as well as Lithuania and Montserrat.

Paul Charles, chief executive of the PC Agency, said: “Much of Europe won’t change because the Government would create utter chaos at our borders during the Bank Holiday weekend and week if they chose to turn some of the most popular countries red, such as Balearics or Spain, and force so many people into hotel quarantine.”

Red-listed Turkey has seen its Covid rates decline, raising hopes that it could be moved to amber.