UK Government confirmed that four countries would move from the red list of countries – which require hotel quarantine on arrival in the UK – to amber:
There are no demotions from green to amber, although Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway will all move up to the green list “having demonstrated they posed a low risk to UK public health”.
However, Georgia, Réunion, Mayotte and Mexico are all moving to the red list. The Government said: “They present a high public health risk to the UK from known variants of concern, known high-risk variants under investigation, or as a result of very high in-country or territory prevalence of Covid-19.”
These changes will come into effect from 4am on Sunday 8 August and initially apply only to England, although the rest of the UK has tended to follow suit on travel.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “While we must continue to be cautious, today’s changes reopen a range of different holiday destinations across the globe, which is good news for both the sector and travelling public.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid added: “As well as moving more countries to the green list, today’s announcement also demonstrates the need for continued caution.
“Further countries have been added to the red list to help protect the success of our vaccine rollout from the threat of new variants.”
What are the amber list rules?
Rules for fully vaccinated travelers, and under-18s
Before travelling to the UK you must provide evidence of a negative Covid test – either PCR or antigen – taken within three days of departure. You must also complete a passenger locator form within 48 hours of arriving in the UK. This will include details of your Covid test.
Since 19 July, people who have received both Covid-19 jabs in the UK, US and most European countries have been able enter the UK from amber list countries without having to quarantine. This also applies to under-18s.
People will need to have received their second jab at least 14 days before travelling to be exempt from quarantine.
You must take a PCR test on or before day two of your arrival back in the UK.
Rules for other travelers
Before travelling to the UK you must provide evidence of a negative Covid test – either PCR or antigen – taken within three days before departure.
If you are not fully vaccinated or under-18, you must quarantine at home or the place you are staying for 10 days upon arrival in the UK.
You must also take a day-two and day-eight PCR test. You may take an additional test on day five, and can be released from isolation if it is negative. However, you must still take the day-eight test.
Arrivals from France will no longer have to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated, in line with other amber list countries.
“This move also simplifies the system to three categories, as well as the green watchlist to give travellers notice where green status is at risk.”
A Whitehall source said that no decisions had been made on the traffic light system at the time, but refused to deny that amber-plus could be shelved next week.
It comes after plans for the “amber watchlist” were abandoned after Boris Johnson faced a Tory revolt over the idea.
The changes mean that from Sunday 8 August the amber list will comprise the following countries and territories:
