A decision is expected in the coming week on adding further countries to the UK red list, meaning that returning UK residents will need to spend 10 days in a designated quarantine hotel, at a cost of more than 2,000 euros (£1,750), from additional states. Non-residents will be banned from entering altogether.
France is close the top of the list, due to a coronavirus infection rate of 562 per 100,000. Italy has 517 and Poland 716 cases per 100,000.
Thanks to the UK’s successful inoculation program, the infection rate has fallen to 114.
On Sunday, Germany introduced new rules for travellers from France who will now have to provide a negative PCR test and quarantine for 10 days. Spain has also tightened cross-border travel.
Currently there are 35 countries on the UK red list, mostly in South America and southern Africa.
However, PM Boris Johnson has said that imposing a red listing on France would be problematic due to the volume of cross-channel trade.
FILE PHOTO: Boris Johnson said last week that when England’s lockdown is relaxed from April 12 he will go to the pub before calling in at his hairdresser
