No prospect of amber travel watchlist being introduced this week

UK

There is no prospect of an amber watchlist being introduced at the latest travel review this week, Sky News understands.

Government sources have confirmed that Boris Johnson has rejected the idea.

Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘We have to have a balanced approach’

It comes after the prime minister said he wanted a “simple” and “user-friendly” system for holidaymakers while at the same time stopping the importation of new variants of COVID-19.

The government is expected to announce changes to the traffic light system this week.

There had been speculation that a new amber watchlist, made up of destinations in danger of moving to the red list with little warning, could be included.

However the suggestion sparked a backlash from the travel industry and Conservative MPs, with reports of cabinet ministers being divided on the idea.

Given that travellers entering the UK from red list nations have to pay £1,750 to quarantine for 10 days, critics of the idea expressed fears that people would cancel trips to any amber watchlist destinations in order to avoid the prospect of being hit with a hefty isolation bill upon their return if the situation were to change.

Articles You May Like

Tesla Gigafactory Berlin finally reaches goal of 5,000 electric cars a week
Barricades broken near Netanyahu’s home after outspoken defence minister sacked
Watch Paltrow on the stand describe anger over ski collision
Pistorius ‘not remorseful or rehabilitated’, Reeva Steenkamp’s mother says ahead of parole hearing
Tesla driver claims Autopilot tried to avoid wheel flying off a car in scary crash caught on video