MONTENEGRO and Thailand are the only new countries to be added to the travel red list today.
The Department for Transport confirmed the changes this afternoon in a blow to travellers who have already booked flights.
All changes to the traffic light list come into force at 4am on Monday, August 31.
Officials said Thailand and Montenegro were added to "reflect the increased case rates in these countries and the higher risk that travel from these countries poses to UK public health."
They also warned that mutant variants are also harder to spot because of the country's lack of screening.
Brits are strongly advised not to travel to countries on the red list – and those returning must quarantine for 10 days in a Government-approved hotel at a cost of £2,000.
It comes as:
- Cornwall’s Covid cases now so high it would ‘be on UK’s red list if it was a foreign country’
- Tourists heading there were told NOT to visit unless they've been tested as cases spike
- The changes will come into play next Monday at 4am
Most of Europe – including France and Spain – remain on the amber list, meaning double-jabbed Brits can travel without self-isolating on return.
Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania and Switzerland were promoted to the green list, meaning even un-vaxxed people don't have to quarantine.
More than three-quarters of Brits are now double-jabbed, so in reality there's no difference between the two lists.
Passengers still need to take pre-departure and day 2 tests and complete a passenger locator form.
None of the current red list countries have been added to the amber list, despite ferocious lobbing efforts by some MPs to have Pakistan knocked off.
Ministers receive advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre about case numbers, vaccination progress and variants before making their decisions.
The list is reviewed every three weeks.
Paul Charles, chief executive of the PC Travel Agency, said: "A continuing, complete lack of transparency underlines these changes which should be wider. Travel continues to be tethered."
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