Can I still go on holiday to Majorca and Ibiza? Rules to avoid amber list quarantine
Spain: Balearics ‘as safe as anywhere in Europe’ says Bauza
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The Balearic Islands have been added to the Government’s amber travel list, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed. Popular tourist destinations, including Ibiza and Majorca, has seen new daily Covid cases double in recent weeks, he claimed.
But if you planned to go on holiday to the Balearics, you can still enjoy the sun, sea and sand without having to quarantine.
Mr Shapps explained that from Monday July 19, there will be some changes to the quarantine rules for arrivals from amber list countries.
Anybody under the age of 18 will no longer need to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
If you’re fully vaccinated against coronavirus, you can also treat the destination as if it were still on the green list.
He told Sky News: “Helpfully for some people, children, those under 18, plus those that have been double vaccinated, you won’t have to quarantine. You can treat it as if it is still a green country.
“But it will mean, I’m afraid to say, for some people that they will have to come home, and they will have to do those 10 days of quarantine… or five days with test to release, which is still available to everybody.
“When we put them on the green watchlist, from then, we’ve seen rates double, and also the rates of positivity of these tests double, meaning we’re going to have to move quickly.”
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The Balearics was placed on the green list when the islands were averaging 35 new coronavirus cases each day.
However, cases have since skyrocketed, with almost 2,000 new cases reported on July 13.
There have been 67,000 cases of Covid on the Balearics since the start of the pandemic.
The islands have also reported 844 deaths from the infection.
The Transport Secretary revealed the decision to place Ibiza, Menorca and Majorca on the amber list on Twitter, shortly after 6pm on Wednesday July 14.
Mr Shapps tweeted: “From 4.00am Monday 19th July Bulgaria & Hong Kong will be added to the green list and Croatia & Taiwan the green watchlist of destinations.
“Please check latest travel advice before you travel as countries and territories may have extra requirements before you get there.
“We’re also moving the Balearic Islands & British Virgin Islands to the amber list – previously on the green watchlist.
“Also, from 19/07 if you’re fully #Vaccinated in the UK you can return to England from amber countries and territories without needing to quarantine.
“Four countries and territories will join the red list to safeguard our domestic vaccine rollout. We’ll keep these measures under review and be guided by the latest data – we won’t hesitate to take action if needed to protect public health.”
The government reviews the traffic-light system every three weeks in the UK.
Lists are decided based on the percentage of a country’s population that have been vaccinated, as well as the infection rate.
The prevalence of any variants of concern could also push some destinations further down the scale.
Until recently, the government had urged the public to avoid travelling to amber list countries, unless absolutely necessary.
The guidance has now been lifted, meaning tourists can visit their favourite amber holiday hotspots, assuming they have either been fully vaccinated, or are willing to quarantine at home.
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