UK Covid travel review next week: What to expect

resh hope for holidaymakers could be on the horizon as the next travel update should arrive next week.

Many popular European destinations remain on either the amber list or the red list.

Holiday hotspots France, Italy, and Cyprus all remain amber at the moment.

With the travel update expected next week, what can we expect to be announced?

The traffic light system is being reviewed by the government every three weeks.

The next review is expected around Thursday September 16.

• Green: Travellers must take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival back into England. Holidaymakers who test negative will not need to quarantine on their return or take any additional tests, halving the cost of tests post holiday.

• Green watchlist: Countries at risk of going amber.

• Amber: Double vaccinated British holidaymakers returning from an amber list country will no longer need to self isolate as of July 19. Arrivals, who are not double-jabbed, must quarantine for ten days. Unvaccinated people must take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on day two and day eight with the option for “test to release” on day five to end self-isolation early. Those who are vaccinated must take a pre-arrival test and test on day two of arriving back into the country.

• Amber plus: UK travellers must quarantine for up to 10 days when they arrive home, regardless of vaccination status. They also need to take a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival and another on day eight. Double-jabbed people can take an additional test on day five and leave quarantine early if the result is negative. They still must take the day eight test. Only France is amber plus at the moment but others including Spain and Greece are rumoured to be under consideration to be added.

• Red: Those returning from red list countries must stay in a managed quarantine hotel for ten days which they should book before their trip. Travellers must complete pre-departure testing and PCR testing on day two and day eight. This could cost around £2,000 per traveller.

Antarctica/British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

These major European holiday destinations are expected to remain on the amber list.

Jamaica could be demoted to the red list after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) renewed its guidance to advise against all non-essential travel to the island.