THE Balearic Islands have become the latest popular holiday destination to be threatened with the amber plus list.
Concerns have grown after Ibiza and Majorca reintroduced strict public health measures amid a rise of covid cases in the past week. Here we detail the latest.
What are the current rules in Majorca and Ibiza?
Authorities across Ibiza and Mallorca are cracking down on social gathering, with a ban on all events which involve mixing between households.
Restaurants, bars and cafes must close at 1am, and the number of diners per table will be cut from six to four indoors, and from 12 to eight outdoors.
Beaches will also be closed off from the public at 10pm each night.
Face coverings continue to be mandatory for anyone over the age of six-years-old on all forms of public transport in Spain and in many other indoor and outdoor public spaces.
The public are advised to always carry a face mask and be prepared to wear when out and about in busy places.
The new updated rules comes as all four islands have seen a significant rise in the Beta variant, which experts say is more transmissible.
According to figures produced by the I, the 14-day case rate per 100,000 inhabitants is 740 across the Balearic region as a whole.
Broken down by island, the rate is 635 in Mallorca, 932 in Menorca, 998 in Ibiza and 462 in Formentera.
Meanwhile, figures for the whole of Spain show that a Beta variant rate that is now almost double.
Estimates believe it accounts for almost 9 per cent of variants.
It has increased fears that the Baleric Islands – alongside mainland Spain – could be put on the amber watch list.
What is an amber plus list country?
Although it is yet to be confirmed by the UK Government, any country featuring on the amber plus list would be subjected to different quart Ning rules granted to those on the amber and green list.
It would act as an additional restriction on the traffic light scheme which includes green, green watchlist, amber and red.
Presently, Brits who have had two doses of the vaccine, with the second one at least 14 days prior to travelling, can skip the 10-day quarantine if returning from amber countries.
However, countries on the amber plus list would not be included in this.
This means even fully vaccinated Brits must still quarantine for 10 days at home when returning from the countries on the list.
They must also have a pre-arrival Covid test and a filled in Passenger Locator Form, as well as two tests on day two and day eight pre-booked.
What countries are on the amber plus list?
The only country currently on the amber plus list is France.
It was announced last week that the country would not be included in the new amber list exemption.
Ministers said they were forced to act quickly late on Friday after concern over the spread of the Beta coronavirus variant in France.
Holidaymakers were forced to return from France after the new rules were introduced.
It is feared that Spain and Greece could be added to the amber plus list as both countries see soaring cases.
They also have much higher rates of the Beta variant than France, which was added to the amber plus list.
This could see them move to the list if government officials fear the variant could threaten the UK vaccine rollout due to their resistance against it.
The government confirmed that the countries wouldn't be added any time soon.
However, they could be added to the list from August 4, the date of the next travel review.
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