What does amber list mean for travel? Fears for Portugal holidays

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Travel abroad from the UK is permitted under the Government’s traffic light system, with countries classified as green, amber or red. Under the system, green countries have the freest travel rules, with no requirement to quarantine upon return to the UK.

The classification depends on a country’s coronavirus cases, the success of its vaccine programme and the ability to determine new Covid variants.

Reviews on the list will take place every three weeks, with the latest review expected today.

Countries may move up or down the tiers depending on their current Covid data, with many Brits hoping more holiday destinations make the green list.

However, one country at risk of slipping down the tiers is Portugal, with concerns over rising cases and variants.

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Portugal is currently classified as green, however, the rising rates may mean it is moved to the amber list or placed on a watch list.

Portugal’s seven-day Covid case rate currently is 37.5 per 100,000 and 43 percent of adults have received the first vaccination dose.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he has “no hesitation” when it comes to moving countries away from the green list “to protect the people of this country.”

But with many booking holidays to Portugal, what would travel to an amber list country mean?

What does Amber list mean for travel?

While travel to green list countries does not require quarantine, amber and red list countries have stricter rules.

Travelling to an amber listed country requires quarantine on return to the UK.

Anyone who has been in an amber country or territory in the 10 days arriving in England must follow key rules.

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These rules apply even if travellers have been vaccinated.

Before travelling to England

  • take a COVID-19 test
  • book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests – to be taken after arrival in England
  • complete a passenger locator form

On arrival in England

  • quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
  • take a COVID-19 test on or before day two and on or after day eight

What would Portugal being on the amber list mean for passengers?

For those who have booked holidays, any rule changes are thought to be coming into force at 4am BST on June 10.

If Portugal is added to the amber list, this means those arriving back into the UK after this date will need to isolate and organise Covid tests.

To book Covid tests for your arrival back into England, you can use the Government’s travel test provider tool.

Visit this link here and select whether you are travelling to an amber or green listed country.

For amber listed countries you will then need to book a test for the second day back in England, and another for the eighth day.

There are ways to filter your results, with region allocations depending on where in the country you are staying after travel.

You can select your test method – at a test site supervised or unsupervised or at home supervised or unsupervised.

Prices of the tests vary from £95 per test to £390 per test.

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