Is Spain going on the red list? Covid cases and restrictions explained ahead of UK travel update

Is Spain likely to go on UK’s red list for travel at the next government update
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Concern remains over whether Spain could be added to the UK's red list for travel after numbers of people returning to the UK from the country are testing positive for Covid.

Figures show that holidaymakers arriving from Spain are two and a half times more likely to test positive for coronavirus than the average person in the UK.

Ibiza could be among the Spanish holiday islands moved to the amber travel list (Shutterstock)Ibiza could be among the Spanish holiday islands moved to the amber travel list (Shutterstock)
Ibiza could be among the Spanish holiday islands moved to the amber travel list (Shutterstock)
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NHS Test and Trace data shows almost three per cent of travellers who visited Spain tested positive for Covid over the first 10 days after arriving back in the UK.

Covid rates are currently lower in Spain than the UK, however.

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Will Spain go on the red list?

Covid case numbers in Spain and returning UK holidaymakers is being closely monitored by UK government officials.

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Spain is currently on the amber list but it could move at the next UK travel update later this month.

The infection rate is dropping according to the European Centre for Disease Prevent and Control.

Spain’s average case rate is 457 infections per 100,000 people - down from 604 per 100,000 people the previous week.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps discussed the possibility of countries moving to the red list in an interview with Sky News recently.

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He said: "With coronavirus you can never say there is zero chance."

"But having said that, the levels of vaccination and what we now know about the virus and what our scientists have been able to work out in the last year means that people should be able to go away, enjoy their holidays without looking over their shoulders the whole time."

When is the next travel update?

Travel restrictions are updated every three weeks by the UK government.

The next travel review is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 25 August 2021, with any changes likely to come in a few days after the announcement.

The last update was on Wednesday 4 August 2021.

Background

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Those travelling to amber listed countries, such as mainland Spain, have to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to England.

However, as of July 19 the requirement to quarantine will be scrapped for the fully vaccinated and those aged under 18.

People arriving in the UK from green list destinations are not required to self-isolate.

The UK is battling its own summer spike in cases, with a further 36,660 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases reported as of 9am on Tuesday.

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Government data also recorded a further 50 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus as of Tuesday – the highest day-on-day increase since April 9 – taking the country’s total to 128,481.

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