All countries expected to be removed from red list
Imminent changes are expected to the UK’s red list, which may see all current countries on it removed.
Seven countries remain on the red list – Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti and Panama.
Ministers are expected to discuss it today and could remove all nations, although the red list concept would be maintained as a ‘safeguard’ to meet any future scenarios such as new dangerous variants.
Arrivals from red list countries currently have to undergo expensive hotel quarantine for ten days costing more than £2,000 per person.
It is thought hotels would remain on standby to be quickly reactivated to quarantine facilities if required.
Just a few weeks ago the government slashed the red list down from 54 countries to only seven, due to the declining risk profiles of most countries.
The Ministry of Health backs the plan to take the seven countries off the list.
"The Department of Health is minded to remove all the remaining countries from the red list given the public health advice," a government source said.
"But the hotel quarantine policy will remain in place as a safety net, in case the situation changes. Countries could go on if there is a concern at some point in the future."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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