UK quarantine rules could be lifted for 75 countries under a new traffic light system - here’s how it would work

British holiday makers may soon be able to go on holiday to 75 countries without the requirement to quarantine when they return, according to reports (Photo: Shutterstock)British holiday makers may soon be able to go on holiday to 75 countries without the requirement to quarantine when they return, according to reports (Photo: Shutterstock)
British holiday makers may soon be able to go on holiday to 75 countries without the requirement to quarantine when they return, according to reports (Photo: Shutterstock)

British holiday makers may soon be able to go on holiday to 75 countries without the requirement to quarantine when they return, according to reports.

This would mean that, for those 75 countries, the Government would no longer continue with its air bridge plans and end the coronavirus quarantine rules, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.

Ban could be lifted on numerous countries

The Daily Telegraph has said that the UK is set to shortly lift a ban on non-essential travel to nearly all EU destinations, alongside the British territories, which would include Bermuda and Gibraltar, and Turkey, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia.

A spokesperson for the transport ministry declined immediate comment.

Traffic light system

A traffic light system will decide which nations are safe to travel to. Those classed as ‘green’ or ‘amber’ will be available to holidaymakers.

The traffic light indicators will be decided depending on the number of coronavirus cases in various countries, helping to identify which destinations are safe and which aren’t.

Here’s what the traffic light grading system means:

Green - countries are safer than the UKAmber - countries are less safe than those graded as greenRed - passengers returning from these countries will need to self-isolate for 14 days

The Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel, but this is set to change this week, with people able to go on holiday from Monday 6 July.

The Foreign Secretary has agreed that travel advice can be eased in both countries and territories where the public health risk is no longer “unacceptably high” and advice “against non-essential travel” can therefore be lifted.

‘We want to get the tourism sector back on its feet as quickly as we can’

Simon Clarke, a junior housing, communities and local government minister, has said that the government was working on an announcement on travel.

“We will provide this announcement as soon as it is safe,” Mr Clarke told Sky.

“We will be talking further about this this week.

"Clearly we want to get the tourism sector back on its feet as quickly as we can and I'm sure that we will be able to give good news in the near future.”