Balearics, Malta and Madeira holidays back on - Green list boosted with 16 more nations
THE BALEARICS, Malta, Madeira and Barbados are among 16 new nations which are set to be added to the green list from June 30. What does this mean for holidays?
Green list: Malta and Balearic islands among countries added
The Northern Irish executive has leaked information stating 16 more nations are being added to the UK's green list. If confirmed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, from Wednesday, June 30, Britons will no longer be required to quarantine on their return from these countries.
In a win for British holidaymakers, the Balearic Islands and Malta are among the nations listed.
The new additions also include an array of tropical holiday hotspots across the Caribbean.
Although Prime Minister Boris Johnson has yet to confirm the list, the Northern Irish executive released the list in full on its website.
It is thought that England's list will be the same, though it is not yet clear if Scotland and Wales will follow suit.
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Currently, Britons arriving back from amber list countries must quarantine at home for 10 days.
They must also take one PCR test within three days of travelling back to the UK, as well as two during their quarantine period.
However, arrivals from green list countries are free from self-isolation, and must only take two tests.
These include one test taken within 72 hours of travel back to the UK, and one on day two of their return.
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Experts had been calling for Malta and the Balearics to be added to the quarantine-free list for some time given their Covid statistics.
Speaking on BBC News earlier in the day, travel expert Simon Calder said: "Put all that together, I cannot see any reason why Malta would not be added to the green list today."
While there had been heightened hopes for Spain, the addition of the Balearics will be good news to British holidaymakers.
The islands are home to holiday favourites including Majorca, Menorca and ibiza.
The full list of countries expected to be on the UK green list from June 30 are as follows:
Australia
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Balearic Islands
Barbados
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Grenada
Iceland
Israel and Jerusalem
Madeira
Malta
Montserrat
New Zealand
Pitcairn Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Singapore
Turks and Caicos Islands