No new countries added to UK Green List, according to BBC.

[Dominic]

No more countries or territories will be added to the UK's foreign travel green list today, according to the BBC.


Read the article and chat about it below...

[Kili01]

Yes, Boris claimed that there was a new variant from Nepal, which might prove resistant to vaccines.. It crossed my mind too that he was adding to the project fear that keeps many people accepting his continual travel restrictions.
But it can't be fair to the travel industry or to the British airlines which seem to be semi permanently grounded. In fact if this goes on how much longer can airlines afford to keep their staff and air crew plus expensive aircraft which aren't able to fly?
Dee

[Dominic]

I think it is more to do with the fact that cases are rising in the UK at the moment.

[WHL]

One step forward two back it seems

[Jimgym]

Boris opens travel to countries, people complain about it. Boris closes travel to countries, people complain about it. A no win situation it seems!

[Firefly]

There will always be new variants with us, this thing is here to stay. My feeling is that it's time we started to get back to normal, rather than one step forward and several back. Once vaccinated, our lives must get back to normal.

The population mainly stuck to the lockdown rules, but there were many who totally ignored them, and will continue to do so, therefore any new variant will spread. I do not believe that putting so many countries on the amber list will stop anything, when we are allowing arrivals from other countries, even those listed as red.

[Kili01]

It's ironic that Boris is effectively preventing British citizens from having a holiday abroad, yet does anyone know if the international flights into British airports are still running? If they are there will still be a risk of new covid variants entering the UK.
What's the point of countries spending millions on mass vaccination of their populations, if at present being fully vaccinated appears to mean nothing?
Actually in a strange way, Boris action in stopping holiday travel from UK is protecting EU countries from getting the full range of 'new variants which the UK already has.
And a final thought. Since Gibraltar is still on the Green list, what's to stop anyone from crossing over from there into neighbouring Spain'?
Dee.

[WHL]

It's ironic that Boris is effectively preventing British citizens from having a holiday abroad, yet does anyone know if the international flights into British airports are still running? If they are there will still be a risk of new covid variants entering the UK.
What's the point of countries spending millions on mass vaccination of their populations, if at present being fully vaccinated appears to mean nothing?
Actually in a strange way, Boris action in stopping holiday travel from UK is protecting EU countries from getting the full range of 'new variants which the UK already has.
And a final thought. Since Gibraltar is still on the Green list, what's to stop anyone from crossing over from there into neighbouring Spain'?
Dee.

Spain might stop them, perhaps?

[Uncle D]

The up side is I think that as the British tourist industry is suffering also, it wouldn't do any harm to keep British tourist money in the UK for this summer at least.

[Kili01]

It seems that the attitude among some in the UK is veering towards being more insular. However a part of your tourist industry is really suffering, both travel agents, overseas tour operators and last but not least Britains airlines. Yet no one seems to care if /when covid is over some remaining airlines have gone bankrupt.

Dee

[bromerzz]

The airlines will rise again, they always have done.

[PhotoLady]

They did the same with Portugal last year too! Opened it for two weeks then put it on home quarantine upon return at short notice.

Gib requires PCR tests for people crossing the border.

If you have only been in countries or territories on the green list in the 14 days preceding your arrival in Gibraltar, you must book a free COVID-19 lateral flow test before arriving in Gibraltar. The test must take place within 24 hours of your arrival. If you are remaining in Gibraltar for more than 7 days, you must also take a second test on day 5. You do not need to provide evidence of vaccination, or self-isolate.

However if you have been to a country on the amber or red list in the previous 14 days, you must book your COVID-19 tests before your arrival, and if you have not been fully vaccinated, you will need to self-isolate on arrival in Gibraltar. In all instances you must complete a Passenger Locator Form.

And the loss of tourism is affecting everyone in the industry from the bottom up. Job cuts all the way across the board for airport staff, handlers to dispatched as well as cabin crew, overseas resort staff and hotel staff.

Nothing going out means not so many coming into UK too and prices for a UK break are truly eye watering.

The new "Nepal" variant has already been diagnosed in Malta, allegedly.

[brengreen]

Whats really ironic is that they put Portugal in the green just long enough to have a big football match, allowed the fans to go and return, then moved it to amber. Just a thought.

[Richard Dastard-Lee]

Gove attended the Champions League final in Porto so it's entirely possible Portugal was put into the green category for the football.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57355599

[PhotoLady]

Gove attended the Champions League final in Porto so it's entirely possible Portugal was put into the green category for the football.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57355599

Has anyone got to the bottom yet of why he's not self-isolating but being allowed to take part in the "test" after being pinged by the track and trace app for coming into contact with someone who has tested positive?

[Kili01]

It won't be the first time that members of this Govt have broken self isolation regulations...
Think of another, 'senior advisor' who broke lock down rules last year. And was later exonerated by the PM.
Not good...

Dee

[ast]

He has not broken any rules, if you read the full story on the BBC.

[Dominic]

Gove attended the Champions League final in Porto so it's entirely possible Portugal was put into the green category for the football.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57355599

Has anyone got to the bottom yet of why he's not self-isolating but being allowed to take part in the "test" after being pinged by the track and trace app for coming into contact with someone who has tested positive?

He's part of a study. They are researching whether daily tests can be an effective substitute for self-isolation. Apparently there are a number of these tests on the go at any one time. It makes sense that they should do such tests, but it is awfully convenient that he was picked to go on one.

[Richard Dastard-Lee]

Please can Cyprus host a football tournament featuring teams supported by Tory cabinet members.

[Jimgward]

The up side is I think that as the British tourist industry is suffering also, it wouldn't do any harm to keep British tourist money in the UK for this summer at least.

It is 100% the reason at present. Keep the economy in the UK boosted by restrictions in travel.

Spain infections per 100,000 was the same as Portugal’s when they entered the green list, so no consistency.

It would appear that UK government knew about India variant problem another 2 weeks before they disclosed it, so at least 5 weeks of travel, plus people routed through Istanbul, before Turkey entered red list. Brazilians also travelled through Portugal.

The handling of every aspect of the pandemic, bar the purchasing of the vaccines, has been a disaster in the UK, costing at least 40,000 extra lives.

I put it down to Johnson populating his cabinet with inexperienced people and incompetents. Not sacking Hancock being the worst atrocity.