No10. keeps Portugal and Greece ON the quarantine-free list despite days of speculation

by

Shambles as No10. keeps Portugal and Greece ON the quarantine-free list despite days of speculation over soaring cases sparking holidaymakers to make scramble back before TONIGHT

  • Greece and Portugal stay on England’s quarantine-free list, despite Covid rise
  • Senior source tells MailOnline Portugal’s rate of infection has actually lowered 
  • Rate of Covid cases in Portugal has been above 20 per 100,000 for three days
  • Scotland and Wales reimposed quarantine rules on Greece earlier this week  

By Luke May For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

The Government has decided to keep Portugal and Greece on the quarantine-free list, despite days of speculation over soaring cases sparking holidaymakers to make a scramble home tonight. 

Following a week of speculation, the Transport Minister tweeted today: ‘We continue to keep the Travel Corridor list under constant review & won’t hesitate to remove countries if needed. 

‘However, there are no English additions or removals today. 

‘Nonetheless, holidaymakers are reminded – 14-day quarantine countries can & do change at very short notice.’

There has been widespread speculation this week that Portugal could be added to the UK’s quarantine list – but today Grant Shapps has announced there will be no changes 

Sources told MailOnline that although Portugal was above the ‘trigger’ threshold for cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period, that appeared to be because they were carrying out more tests.

‘The rate of positives per test has actually gone down,’ one senior source said. 

The rate of Covid cases in Portugal has been above 20 per 100,000 for the past three days – the level at which the government considers introducing a quarantine. 

Yesterday the number of new cases rose to 390 from 231 the day before, suggesting the current seven-day average of 22.7 will not decrease. 

Meanwhile, cases in Greece are currently at a similar level to the UK.

The Government’s announcement comes after many holidaymakers booked flights home costing up to £554 to avoid a potential quarantine requirement.

People arriving in England from countries not on the travel corridor list are required to self-isolate for 14 days.

The Government was also under pressure to reimpose quarantine rules on arrivals from Greece after Scotland and Wales introduced restrictions earlier this week. 

The rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 of population in Greece over the past seven days is just 14 – well short of the government’s quarantine threshold of 20