Could Portugal go back on the green list?
Holidaymakers have been forced to scramble for last-minute flights home after Portugal was downgraded to the amber list in the latest traffic light reshuffle on 3 June. From 4am on 7 June, all arrivals from the Atlantic nation, initially the only mainstream holiday nation on the UKs green list, will be required to self-isolate for 10 days and take two PCR tests. The removal of Portugal leaves just 11 territories on the safe list, which carry a lower risk of Covid reimportation. The downgrade has drawn fury from the travel industry and holidaymakers alike, and dismayed an industry that only tentatively restarted on 17 May. Here is everything you need to know. A mere 12 destinations made it onto the first green list in early May, many of which do not currently let in British travellers or are impossible to reach directly, thereby necessitating travel through an amber country and triggering quarantine upon return to the UK. On 3 June, Portugal was removed from the green list, with changes coming into effect at 4am on 8 June. There are now 11 nations on the green list. Green list in full  Israel  Gibraltar  Iceland  Faroe Islands  Brunei  Falkland Islands  Australia  New Zealand  Singapore  Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands  For information about the countries on the amber list, click here. For information about the countries on the red list, click here. Those returning to the UK from the green list need not quarantine, but still have to present a negative lateral flow test before departure and a post-arrival PCR test within two days of entering the UK. Portugal was removed at the traffic light reshuffle on 3 June. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the presence of the Delta variant in the country as well as a higher positivity rate in the country was behind the move. Mr Shapps said: I want to be straight with people, its actually a difficult decision to make, but in the end weve seen two things really which caused concern. The Portuguese tourist board strongly refutes the downgrade. We are extremely disappointed to hear that the UK government has made the decision to remove Portugal from the green list, said Luis Arajo, president of Turismo de Portugal. We fully maintain and stress unwavering confidence in the safety of the nation and thank the support of all our partners and friends in the UK, especially our trading partners that have been essential in quickly reinstating flight capacity into Portugal. Our country is open and prepared to welcome any tourist and we have taken all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our visitors and residents.  Madeira, a Portuguese-owned group of islands in the Atlantic, said they deserve to stay on the green list and should not be categorised with the rest of mainland Europe, being 1077km away and having a unique set of circumstances. Eduardo Jesus, regional secretary for tourism and culture said of the announcement: The UK governments decision is unfair, inadequate, and unfounded. An urgent review is required for Madeira for positive discrimination. Not any time soon. The next traffic light reshuffle is expected around 24 June, taking the governments three week timetable into account, with changes due to come into force a week later. After the governments well-publicised U-turn on Portugal, its likely to stay amber until after the next review, which could be around the middle of July. There is nothing to stop holidaymakers from travelling to Portugal, despite its place on the amber list. Confusingly, the UKs Foreign Office hasnt advised against all travel there (the FCDOs list and the traffic light lists dont always match up) so holidays and flights are continuing. Travel is merely discouraged, but not illegal. Visitors must present a negative Covid PCR test taken within 72 hours of the departure of the flight to enter Portugal. They will not need to quarantine unless they test positive for Covid-19. For entry to Madeira, tourists who have been double vaccinated arent required to present a negative PCR test. The NHS app should suffice as proof.