Green list countries LATEST – Greece amber status slammed as Brits face wait for Spain and France quarantine-free hols

THE mayor of Benidorm has slammed UK’s new green list of quarantine free travel destinations as "incomprehensible" after Spain was left off.

Toni Perez’s outburst comes after the holiday hotspot remains on the amber list of countries which require returning visitors to self-isolate for 10 days.

Travel bosses have demanded that the Government expand the green list to include the Greek islands.

EasyJet Holidays boss Garry Wilson said that he was “disappointed” at the size of the government's green list.

He said the Balearic, Canary and Greek islands fitted the Government’s Covid safety criteria and should be included.

Virgin Atlantic called the list “overly cautious” and urged that the US be added.

The list is to be reviewed in three weeks.

Meanwhile, Brits rushed to book foreign holidays on Friday with TUI having its "best day" in months.

Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest updates…

  • Debbie White

    OVER 100,000 SKIN CANCER PATIENTS UNTREATED DURING PANDEMIC

    More than 100,000 people have not been referred to hospital with possible skin cancer since the Covid pandemic struck over a year ago, says the Sunday Times.

    The paper explains: "An analysis of NHS data shows the number urgently referred for suspected skin cancer, which means they must be seen within two weeks, fell by 20 per cent between March 2020 and February this year, compared with the same period in 2019-20.

    "This equates to 101,000 fewer people."

  • Debbie White

    NO COVID DEATHS IN SCOTLAND IN PAST 24 HOURS

    Scotland has recorded 200 new cases of coronavirus but no deaths in the past 24 hours.

    The death toll under this daily measure – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – remains at 7,661.

    However, the Scottish Government noted that registry offices are generally closed at weekends. A total of 227,672 have tested positive for the virus.

    So far, 2,897,975 people have received the first dose of a Covid jab and 1,468,296 have received their second dose.

  • Debbie White

    BENIDORM MAYOR SLAMS GREEN LIST

    The mayor of Benidorm has slammed UK’s new green list of quarantine free travel destinations as "incomprehensible" after Spain was left off.

    Toni Perez’s outburst comes after the holiday hotspot remains on the amber list of countries which require returning visitors to self-isolate for 10 days.

    The mayor is now demanding a personal meeting with Britain’s Ambassador to Spain to explain the “reality” of the popular British holiday destination.

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps finally announced that Brits can get their foreign getaways booked in, but the list of green list areas is very short.

    Portugal, Israel and Iceland are on the list, but as well as Spain, the other traditional holiday hotspots of France and Greece, have been left off.

  • Debbie White

    THIRD OF ADULTS IN ENGLAND HAVE HAD BOTH COVID JABS

    A third of adults in England have now had both doses of the Covid vaccine, NHS England says.

    A total of 44,449,424 Covid-19 jabs took place in England between December 8 and May 8, according to NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 541,513 on the previous day.

    NHS England said 29,578,216 were the first dose, a rise of 137,003 on the previous day, while 14,871,208 were a second dose, an increase of 404,510.

    Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and medical director for primary care at NHS England, said: "Yet another incredible NHS milestone has been reached as one in three adults in England have now had both doses of the Covid vaccine – meaning that they have maximum protection from the virus.

    "Reaching this milestone is no accident – it is down to months of hard work and everyone in the NHS who has played a role in this is helping to protect millions of people from serious illness and saving lives."

  • Debbie White

    TRAFFIC LIGHT TRAVEL DECISION BASED ON HEALTH BOSSES' ADVICE

    Decisions on travel had been “led by the Department of Health” and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, who were “determined” to “do exactly what the scientists say”, insiders told the Mail on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were said to be among those arguing for a less strict approach to foreign holidays.

    Sources told the newspaper the Greek islands had not made it onto the green list as health officials had not independently assessed Covid data from those locations

  • Debbie White

    TRAFFIC LIGHT TRAVEL SYSTEM A 'DISASTER'

    Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced the Government’s traffic-light system on Friday, with Portugal and Israel among those on the green list – meaning Brits will not need to quarantine on their return.

    But travel bosses were left furious after Greece, Spain and France were put into the amber category – forcing holidaymakers to self-isolate for ten days on arrival in the UK.

    A senior Tory branded the traffic-light system a “disaster”, adding: “The vaccine programme will have covered everybody, but instead the decisions have been handed over to the scientists.”

    Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski also told the Mail on Sunday the Government’s approach was “illogical”, adding: “How can you categorise Greece as a whole if it comprises hundreds of islands? 

    “Some of these islands have a very low R rate, and authorities have put into place measures to protect tourists.”

  • Debbie White

    HALF-TERM HOLS RUINED FOR THOUSANDS OF BRITS

    Thousands of Brits have had their half-term holiday plans ruined as the Government faces mounting anger over its traffic-light system for international travel.

    It came as easyJet boss Lohan Lundgren urged ministers to put tourist hotspots Greece and Spain on the green list from May 17.

    Mr Lundgren said the decision to leave holiday favourites off the green list was “overly cautious” and “not justified by the evidence”.

    He urged ministers to move Greece and Spain onto the list in three weeks as the risk of contracting Covid was “very low”.

  • Dan Keane

    NEARLY 2 MILLION JABS GIVEN OUT IN WALES

    Public Health Wales said a total of 1,922,881 first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have now been given in Wales.

    The agency said 842,047 second doses have also been administered.

  • Dan Keane

    BORIS TO MAKE NHS PRIORITY

    Boris Johnson will make fixing the Covid-hit NHS his top priority in the year ahead.

    The PM will pump in billions of pounds to cut big waiting lists which grew as hospitals fought the virus.

    Action to speed up diagnosis and treatment for other illnesses will be at the heart of the Queen’s Speech this week.

    Mr Johnson said: “My government is focused on beating this disease, saving lives and livelihoods.

    “But I am also determined we fulfil the promises we made to the British people.”

  • Debbie White

    CHAMP'S SECRET HELL

    Anthony Joshua says Covid lockdowns stopped him having a breakdown.

    The world heavyweight champ was grateful to take time off from training.

    Joshua, who is closing in on a mega-fight with rival Tyson Fury, said: “I never want to say Covid has been a blessing as for 99 per cent of people it has been so life-changing and tough for people.

    More on the story here.

  • Debbie White

    ROADMAP REVEAL – PM TO GIVE SPEECH TOMORROW

    Boris Johnson will finally allow Brits to hug family and friends from next week, after months of social distancing.

    The Prime Minister is due to set out the rules on hugging loved ones and attending wedding and funerals in a 5pm press conference tomorrow.

    He is likely to tell the nation to use their "personal judgement" and "common sense" when hugging pals and family members after May 17, sources say.

    Number 10 sources have told The Telegraph Mr Johnson is likely to tell the public tomorrow that everyone should use their “personal judgement” and their “common sense” when it comes to hugging friends and family after May 17.

    It is thought that the PM will also confirm changes to the restrictions surrounding care home residents.

  • Debbie White

    INDIA STILL IGNORING LOCKDOWN CALLS

    India's Covid-19 deaths rose by more than 4,000 for a second consecutive day on Sunday.

    Yet calls for a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the virus continue to be ignored.

    India's health ministry reported 4,092 fatalities over the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 242,362. New cases rose by 403,738, just shy of the record and increasing the total since the start of the pandemic to 22.3 million.

    India has been hit hard by a second wave with cases and deaths hitting record highs every other day.

    With an acute shortage of oxygen and beds in many hospitals and morgues and crematoriums overflowing, experts have said the actual numbers for Covid cases and fatalities could be far higher.

  • Debbie White

    HEATHROW HOLIDAYMAKERS FUMING OVER 10-HOUR-LONG QUEUES

    Holidaymakers could face queues up to TEN HOURS when arriving back in Heathrow Airport this summer.

    A row between Border Force, Heathrow and unions over Perspex screens to blame for the horror wait times.

    Grant Shapps yesterday revealed the long-awaited list of where Brits can go on holiday later this month without having to quarantine on their return – with Portugal, Israel and Iceland among those on the green list.

    And the Transport Secretary also warned of longer wait times at airports as the industry reopens.

    Officials at the border will be tasked with a range of checks to make sure Covid doesn't take hold in the UK again.

  • Debbie White

    DEADLY STRAIN IN BOLTON

    Bolton has emerged as the new UK hotspot for the Indian Covid variant as infection rates double and surge testing begins.

    Urgent measures to contain the variant are being out into place in the town with a ramped up vaccination campaign, as well as testing.

    The latest infection rate figures show an increase from 50 cases per 100,000 of population to 89 per 100,000.

    That compares to the average in England of of 20.6 cases per 100,000.

    More on the story here.

  • Debbie White

    SINGLE-USE FACE MASKS KILLING OUR PLANET

    Face masks used to cut Covid rates could be killing our planet – by releasing pollutants into the environment.

    Experts found the single-use masks release heavy metals, chemicals and plastic fibres when submerged in water.

    Research originally set out to calculate the plastic waste impact on the environment.

    But as more masks were tested, more chemicals were uncovered usually linked to dyes used in producing the masks.

    The team found traces of heavy metals lead, antimony and cadmium – all toxic in low doses.

  • Debbie White

    FINALLY! HUGS TO BE ALLOWED

    Hugging family and friends will be allowed from next week when the next set of restrictions lift.

    Boris Johnson will set out the rules during a Downing Street press conference and Brits will be told to use their “common sense”, according to reports.

    It's expected that people will be told they can finally hug their close friends and family again – but social distancing rules will be expected to stay for others.

    Brits will be told they can decide on their own levels of risk "for their own circumstances" and take decisions into their own hands after months of advice from ministers about what to do.

    Number 10 sources have told The Telegraph Mr Johnson is likely to tell the public tomorrow that everyone should use their “personal judgement” and their “common sense” when it comes to hugging friends and family after May 17.

  • Debbie White

    ONE PER CENT OF HOSPITALISED COVID CASES HAD JAB

    Jabbed Brits make up just one per cent of patients hospitalised with Covid since the huge vaccine rollout, according to a study.

    Researchers at the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies called the findings 'joyous'.

    Prof Calum Semple said: "We feel very strongly this is a story about vaccine success.

    "The absolute numbers of people being admitted to hospital after 21 days of the first dose is tiny."

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    HOLD AGAIN

    Hugging family and friends will be allowed from next week when the next set of restrictions lift.

    Boris Johnson will set out the rules tomorrow during a Downing Street press conference and Brits will be told to use their “common sense”, according to reports.

    At the moment anyone who doesn't live together is advised to keep at least 1.5 metres away from others to stop the spread of the virus.

    But, as first revealed by The Sun it's expected that people will be told they can finally hug their close friends and family again – but social distancing rules will be expected to stay for others.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    WHAT COUNTRIES ARE ON THE GREEN LIST?

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    RUN FOR THE SUN

    Brits rushed to book breaks abroad yesterday — as travel chiefs said the Covid green list should be expanded.

    The UK’s biggest holiday firm, TUI, had its “best day” in months, with six in ten bookings for Portugal.

    Thomas Cook also saw high demand while EasyJet has put on an extra 80,000 seats to green list spots.

    Jet2holidays said its bookings were 1,300 per cent up on a week ago.

    Demand was also high for Gibraltar, Madeira and Israel.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    CHAMP'S SECRET HELL

    Anthony Joshua says Covid lockdowns stopped him having a breakdown.

    The world heavyweight champ was grateful to take time off from training.

    Joshua, who is closing in on a mega-fight with rival Tyson Fury, said: “I never want to say Covid has been a blessing as for 99 per cent of people it has been so life-changing and tough for people.

    More on the story here.

  • Aliki Kraterou

    HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT DECIDING WHICH LIST COUNTRIES ARE ON?

    The exact details are not yet revealed but factors taken into account include the number of people vaccinated and Covid infection rates.

    Variants are of concern and the ability of the country to identify them will also be taken into account.

  • Aliki Kraterou
  • Niamh Cavanagh

    SOUTH AFRICA PICKS UP FIRST CASES OF CORONAVIRUS VARIANT FROM INDIA

    South Africa's health ministry said on Saturday it had detected the first four cases of a new coronavirus variant that emerged in India and was responsible for a surge of infections and deaths in the Asian country.

    Testing had also picked up 11 cases of variant B.1.1.7 first detected in the UK, the health ministry said in a statement.

  • Niamh Cavanagh

    WHAT COUNTRIES HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR HOLIDAYS?

    Source: Read Full Article

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