Freedom Day is just around the corner, leaving Brits to regain many freedoms they once took for granted. From July 19th, fully inoculated Britons will no longer need to self-isolate on return from their amber-list holidays to Spain or Greece. However, if you’re coming back from France, you’ll still need to quarantine, vaccinated or not.
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Thousands of UK travellers hoping for a lavish holiday to France have had their dreams written off. As, due to Beta variant concerns, ministers have now introduced a new amber-plus travel category.
France added to new amber-plus travel list
Unlike the original amber list, fully vaccinated Brits returning from amber-plus countries will still need to isolate for ten days upon returning to the UK and complete two coronavirus PCR tests. Currently, the only country subject to these new travel rules is France.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid explained: ‘We have always been clear that we will not hesitate to take rapid action at our borders to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the gains made by our successful vaccination programme.’
With restrictions lifting on Monday across the country, we will do everything we can to ensure international travel is conducted as safely as possible and protect our borders from the threat of variants.
Many travel operators are now criticising ministers for going back on their word, claiming that the rules will further impact the tourism industry and ‘ruin summer’ for everyone. EasyJet’s Chief Executive Johan Lundgren claimed the government was ‘making it up as they go along and causing confusion and uncertainty.’
It is not backed up by the science or transparent data, and this move pulls the rug out from under our customers who have already travelled to France or who are booked to travel there and so it is them I feel for.
Could other countries be added to the amber-plus list?
The other option for France was for the government to move the country to the red list, demanding that tourists undergo quarantine at a managed isolation facility. However, hotels would not be able to keep up with the number of returnees, prompting the government to introduce a new category in the traffic light system.
But, the introduction of the new amber-plus category begs the question: will other popular holiday destinations soon be added to the list?
