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OFFICIAL: UK keeps all of Spain on its 'amber' travel list until late June

The Local Spain
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OFFICIAL: UK keeps all of Spain on its 'amber' travel list until late June
Image: Kookay/ Pixabay

The UK government announced on Thursday that no new countries would be added to its "green" travel list, meaning that Spain remains an "amber-listed" country with quarantine required for those flying from Spain to the UK.

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Travellers arriving in the UK from an "amber" list country like Spain must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in  the UK and provide negative PCR tests when flying back, on day two and day eight.

It was thought that the UK might consider Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands separately and add them to the green list. Last week Aviation Minister Robert Courts told reporters that UK tourists could be allowed to visit islands - including Spain's or Greece's - even if high infection rates prevent the entire country from being added to the UK's quarantine-free "green" list.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also confirmed to the BBC last week that islands would be looked at separately when the travel rules are updated.

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This however does not seem to be the case anymore, because the whole of Spain, including the Canary and Balearics, remain on the UK government’s amber list.

In response to being asked about islands being considered separately, the UK’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC on Thursday June 3rd: "We've got to protect the progress that we've made here at home, whilst of course allowing for travel when it's safe to do so. We've got to follow the data”.

The UK government also declared that it would be removing Portugal from its green list as of June 8th, dashing hopes that many Britons had of travelling there in the next few weeks. 

Gibraltar however remains on the green list, meaning Britons can travel there freely without having to quarantine upon return home. 

The UK’s Global Travel Taskforce, the official body responsible for helping to set out the travel rules for the United Kingdom, is currently updating its traffic-light system every three weeks, meaning that Spain's "amber" classification will continue until around June 24th.

Spain announced that from May 24th, travellers from the UK would be able to visit Spain again, without the need for a negative Covid test. Anyone wanting to do so, however, will still have to face 10 days quarantine when they get back home. 

This also puts a damper on the plans of British residents in Spain who were hoping to be able to go back and visit family, without having to spend the whole time indoors. 

READ ALSO: ‘I’m going crazy’: Why international residents in Europe will travel this summer despite Covid 

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