BORIS Johnson dashed more holiday hopes today as he said he would have "no hesitation" in moving green list destinations to the red list to save lives.
The PM refused to be drawn on whether experts would add any more countries to the green list when they update it tomorrow.
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As it stands it's looking unlikely that many will change, if at all, and the list of countries Brits can go to looks set to be very limited.
Speaking today, the PM was very downbeat at the prospect of opening more countries up for travelling.
The PM said this afternoon: "Wait and see what the Joint Biosecurity Centre say and what the recommendations are about travel.
"We are going to try and allow people to travel, as I know people want to, but we have to continue to be cautious
"We will have no hesitation in moving countries to the red list, to the amber list, if we have to do so.
"The priority is to protect the people of this country."
It comes as millions of Brits heading abroad were warned of carnage due to the chaotic testing facilities.
Families have found themselves paying hundreds of pounds extra after their mandatory Covid test results didn't arrive in time to go home.
Which? Travel Editor Rory Boland advised families to book package holidays with tour operators who offer Covid tests, as they will then let you move your holiday if the result doesn't arrive in time.
However, he added: "But that’s not a given and will be no consolation to people who have fixed dates. The private testing system is already struggling, it will be carnage when people start travelling again."
43 high-risk nations are currently on the government's travel red list.
Brits are currently banned from travelling to red list countries or territories – but a government review is imminent.
Robert Boyle, a former BA strategist, said that he had looked at which countries might be added to the red list, based purely on Covid infection rates.
British holidaymakers are likely to be banned from flying to Bahrain, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Kuwait, he predicted.
Malta, Finland and Slovakia may get the green light, however.
Both the Canary and the Balearic Islands in Spain could be added, according to PC Agency's Paul Charles, as well as Malta and Jamaica.
There are currently 12 countries on the green list, which have a low rate of infections and a steady number of vaccinations being distributed.
Holidaymakers can jet off to those nations without the worry of quarantine restrictions, as foreign holidays have now restarted.
But passengers do have to take a test before they fly to prove they are Covid free, which can still add costs to holiday bills.
All of the countries on the green list are:
- Portugal
- Israel
- Singapore
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Brunei
- Iceland
- Gibraltar
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascension Island
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