Several countries could be added to the UK travel red list following a worrying spike in Covid infections.
An autumn surge of infections is overwhelming health services in some central and eastern European nations, including Austria, Germany, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Austria has entered its fourth national lockdown with Christmas markets in Vienna packed on Sunday with local people and tourists taking in the holiday sights before shops and food stalls are forced to close.
In his latest travel review, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that no countries or territories would immediately be downgraded to the red list, reports the LiverpoolEcho.
However, Mr Shapps issued a stark warning that the government is "prepared to add countries and territories back if needed."
Data analyst Tim White has been following case figures in destinations around the world since travel restrictions were introduced by the UK government, has identified several countries in danger of being returned to the red list.
He highlighted record case rates in Norway, which saw an all-time high in last week's seven-day rolling average, as an issue, the Independent reports.
Mr White tweeted: "Currently seven European nations are at all-time high 7-day infection rates. Norway joins #Austria #Denmark #Germany #Iceland #Netherlands and #Slovakia at record rates.
"#Slovenia was there a week ago and could rejoin the group any day now.
"Could be big trouble ahead for #USA around Christmas. If this is the start of the mega wave which swept Europe, the bad news is the U.S. is starting at a higher infection rate than any of the previous waves. Tomorrow I predict #Covid19 cases will go back above 100k."
Mr White also highlighted Croatia, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Germany’s health minister has said the rapid rise in coronavirus cases means it is likely that everyone in the country who is not vaccinated will have caught Covid-19 by the end of the winter, and some of those will die.
Official figures showed more than 30,000 newly confirmed cases in Germany over the past 24 hours, an increase of about 50% compared to a week ago.
Health minister Jens Spahn urged Germans to get vaccinated, including with booster shots if their first round of inoculation occurred more than six months ago, to reduce the risk of serious illness.
“By the end of this winter pretty much everyone in Germany … will have been vaccinated, recovered or died,” Mr Spahn told reporters in Berlin.
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