Travel and air transport professionals had been calling on the British government for this for several weeks. On Friday 7 May it finally published the list of countries classified as 'green' for British travellers.. Conditions of return for the British equivalent entry conditions for other travellers.
This "à la Prévert" list is valid for from 17 May. It includes destinations with little obvious appeal. Like the island of St Helena - a confetti of the defunct British Empire lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. And since nostalgia for that glorious empire still stirs Boris Johnson's government, it also includes authorisation to spend holidays in the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.
France, Benelux and Switzerland on the "amber" list
In Europe, on the other hand, only the Azores or Madeira in Portugal, the Faroe Islands or Iceland have found favour with the government.. Other countries such asAustralia, New Zealand or Singapore are also on the green list. Except that their borders remain hermetically sealed for leisure travellers.
France, along with Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland, is on the amber list.. This means that the quarantine is compulsory for all travellers from these countries. This provision applies not only to British holidaymakers but also to travellers from these countries.
The conditions for entering the country remain complicated and costly. According to the British government website, a 10-day quarantine is mandatory - but it can be carried out in a place chosen by the traveller. This is not the case, for example, for travellers from red-listed countries.
To enter England and Wales, you need a negative Covid test less than 72 hours old (PCR or transgenic). Plus two other tests on site during quarantine on days 2 and 8. The cost of these two tests (to be booked in advance) varies from £116 for the cheapest laboratory to £399.
Future flexibility?
The quarantine is closely monitored by the authorities. And it comes with severe restrictions. It is totally forbidden to leave the place chosen for isolation. On pain of a fine of up to £10,000.
However, the government is providing some flexibility. For short stays, travellers can have a second test after 5 days. If it is negative, the quarantine is lifted.
For Scotland the conditions of stay are even more draconian. It is only possible to come for essential reasons.
" I regret that favourite summer destinations such as France, Spain and Greece are not yet included." said Grant Shapps, the British Transport Minister, at a press conference on Friday 7 May. " But every three weeks from the date of reopening, we'll be taking a look at the countries we've selected.to see how and where we can extend the green list. So this is just a first step." he added.
