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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Dan Bloom & Rosaleen Fenton

Government adds five new countries to England ‘air bridge’ list

The government has updated the list of countries people in England can travel to without having to quarantine on return.

Popular holiday destination Portugal has not been included on the list -  meaning holidaymakers must still quarantine for 14 days on their return.

Spain also remains on the list, despite the number of cases in the country tripling, leading to a number of regional lockdowns.

Email us about your holiday experiences, good or bad, at webtravel@trinitymirror.com

El Bogatell Beach in Barcelona last week (AFP via Getty Images)

Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines have all been added to the list.

The changes will take effect in England from next Tuesday, with further changes made to the list on a weekly basis.

On the government website, a statement warns: "The government urges passengers to continue to protect themselves when considering travelling abroad by making sure they are up to date on the latest information - both at home and at their destination."

But everyone arriving in the UK, including those from approved destinations, must still complete a passenger locator form on arrival.

The Department for Transport adds: "We are prepared to respond rapidly if the health situation of a country deteriorates.

Holidaymakers can now fly to The Grenadines (Getty Images)

"The border health measures remain subject to review every 28 days in England."

This could see holidaymakers jet overseas while the country is on the safe list, only for the advice to change while they are abroad, meaning they face two weeks isolation upon return.

The Foreign Office has also added more countries to the list of countries exempt from its advice against all but essential travel.

New countries added include Cuba, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

This list does not mean that travellers don't have to isolate upon return - just that the FCO has removed the advice warning against nearly all travel there.

But Portugal is also absent from that list, although travel to the Azores and Madeira is still exempt, in a move likely to provoke anger amongst Portuguese officials.

The Foreign Office full list of countries and territories:

  • Laos 
  • Cambodia 
  • Fiji 
  • Samoa 
  • Sri Lanka 
  • Cuba 
  • Guadeloupe 
  • St Barthelemy 
  • St Martin 
  • St Maarten 
  • Aruba 
  • New Caledonia 
  • Curacao 
  • Cook Islands 
  • British Indian Ocean Territory 
  • Falkland Islands 
  • St Helena 
  • Ascension Island 
  • Tristan da Cuna

Cuba, Sri Lanka, St Maarten, St Martin , Samoa and St Barthelemy, Cambodia and the Cook Islands are not on the quarantine exemption list.

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