Passengers are ‘terrified of catching Covid’ while crammed into Heathrow UK border queue
Passengers flying into the UK today faced ‘bedlam’ at the borders with some facing a three hour wait – with some left standing next to Red List arrivals.
Heathrow travellers have told MailOnline how they were ‘terrified of catching Covid’ while being crammed into the airport’s border hall this morning. Some even claim they were left standing next to arrivals from Covid-ravaged India while in the three hour long queues.
The chaotic scenes at the border come as figures show Britain’s daily coronavirus cases have fallen by 16 per cent in a week while deaths remain steady.
Department of Health statistics show there were 1,979 new infections in the past 24 hours, down on last Monday. A further five fatalities were registered, one more than the same time last week.
Thousands of Britons today rushed to the airport to leave the country after the international travel ban was lifted this morning.
Passengers have been taking advantage of at least 340 flights from Heathrow and Gatwick that MailOnline has identified to destinations in the medium-risk category. They included nine flights to Rome, 21 to Paris and 26 to New York – on what is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for British airports.
But as thousands jetting off to the likes of Portugal joined orderly queues in the departures area today, those in arrivals faced chaos at the border.
One of those stuck in the queue told MailOnline: ‘I arrived back in the country from South Africa today – one of the Red Listed countries. I was more terrified catching Covid while going through border control than walking around South Africa.
‘While queuing there was no social distancing we had a plane from India arrive straight after ours and we queued for over three hours and when their plane arrived it was out the door.’
As the coronavirus lockdown was further eased today, it emerged:
- The PM urged families to adopt ‘caution’ with the ban on indoor socialising and hugs finally ending;
- Britons headed back to the office for the first time in more than a year as commuters return to city centres;
- Ministers are stuck over whether to extend lockdown beyond June 21 to protect ‘idiot’ jab refuseniks;
- The number of Britons given their second coronavirus vaccine reached 20million yesterday;
- An update to the NHS app allowed for proof of jab status as pubs and restaurants allow customers indoors;
- Mr Hancock said ministers were confident existing vaccines would work against the new Indian strain;
- Just four virus-related deaths were recorded yesterday, but cases rose by eight per cent in a week to 2,000;
- Long queues formed outside vaccination centres in Bolton, where the Indian covid variant has surged.
Passengers flying into the UK today faced ‘bedlam’ at the borders with some facing a three hour wait. Pictured: One arrival sent this picture in of the queues at Heathrow today
Heathrow travellers have told MailOnline how they were ‘terrified of catching Covid’ while being crammed into the airport’s border hall this morning. Pictured: Passengers queue at the Heathrow border hall today
New York-based journalist Steve Myall was one of those caught up in the Heathrow arrivals chaos this morning.
The reporter, who flew in from ‘amber listed’ America, documented his experience on Twitter – saying in one post how he had been forced to sit next to a family from a red list country.
He said: ‘Have arrived in Heathrow. Been told to join the one hour plus queue and also that the fast tracking of families with young children is on hold.
‘Asked to go and sit somewhere while one parent queues up we’ve been directed to sit with a family who have just arrived from a Red List country.’
He later claimed that just 10 of the 35 Border Force desks were being staffed when he went through around 6am today.
NHS figures show that vaccine uptake among all over-40s, which is at 83 per cent average across England, is below average in all but one (Sefton) of the Indian variant hotspot areas. Although experts do not think the at-risk older age groups are the ones driving outbreaks at the moment, it could be cause for concern if the virus spreads to them
Mr Myall later said: ‘Made it through after almost two hours.’
He added that he and his family had chosen to arrive in the UK today as he had not seen family members since August and that it was the first day when households were allowed to mix.
Because he is arriving from an amber list country he will have to quarantine for at least 10 days, with two tests needed.
MailOnline has contacted the Home Office, who run the UK Border at Heathrow, for a comment.
Heathrow, who are not responsible for staffing, said in response to Mr Myall’s tweet that the delay was down to delays in checking Covid entry requirements for passengers.
‘Border Force is currently experiencing some delays as they conduct Health Measure Checks to ensure passenger compliance with the UK Government’s latest entry requirements.
‘We have raised your concern with our colleagues at Border Force whose responsibility it is to ensure that passengers within the red listed queue remain separate from other passengers.’
It comes as the UK’s border rules were branded a ‘joke’ today as Brits ignored Matt Hancock’s pleas to board hundreds of flights bound for ‘amber list’ countries.
Passengers have been taking advantage of at least 340 flights from Heathrow and Gatwick that MailOnline has identified to destinations in the medium-risk category.
They included nine flights to Rome, 21 to Paris and 26 to New York – on what is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for British airports.
Brits catching flights at Gatwick admitted the Health Secretary’s entreaties only to visit a small set of of ‘green’ rated destinations had not swayed them – and nor had the requirement to isolate at home for 10 days on return.
In another confusing signal, the government has dropped the threat of £5,000 fines for non-essential travel.
Former No10 chief Dominic Cummings complained that the policies were not tough enough to protect public health and the economy this afternoon, while British Airways chief Sean Doyle said the rules on when people are permitted to visit amber countries are ‘not clear’.
Nathan Priestly, 31, from Wokingham in Berkshire, said he was heading to Corfu with five friends. Asked if he minded having to quarantine after returning to England from the Greek island, he said: ‘For me, I work from home at the moment so it’s neither here nor there. I’m still fairly young and fairly active. I haven’t had anything wrong with me, nothing underlying, so for me, a negative test and away you go.’
Other tourists were seen landing in the Algarve in southern Portugal, a green list country, and smiling for the cameras as they stepped into Mediterranean sunshine for the first time since the end of last year.
However, Ryanair passengers flying to Portugal from Birmingham were told to wear their masks or face spending the start of their holiday in a police station.
According to LBC, the pilot threatened: ‘This isn’t a kindergarten, this is a two hour flight. If you can’t wear your masks you will be starting your holiday in Portugal in a police station.’
Just 12 countries including Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel are green list countries on the UK traffic light scheme, meaning British holidaymakers are allowed to travel there without quarantining on their return to Britain.
However, they are required to take a covid test on or before day two of their arriving back in the UK.
The Government has said that people travelling to amber list countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the US and Canada must quarantine at home and take two tests upon returning.
All travellers to green, amber and red list destinations must also follow the entry requirements of the countries they are heading to. This means while Britons can fly to countries like Portugal, Greece and Italy with proof of negative test, they can only enter countries like Spain if they are citizens and legal residents of the EU, Schengen states, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican, and San Marino, or can demonstrate essential need to enter.
Under the UK’s traffic light scheme, people travelling to red list countries such as India and Pakistan are required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days at a cost of £1,750 upon returning in Britain. Again, government guidance says they will need to follow the local entry requirements and restrictions.
British holidaymakers returning to the UK from amber and red list countries have to complete a passenger locator form providing the results of their covid tests and where they will be quarantining for 10 days.
UK border rules are branded a ‘joke’ as Brits ignore Matt Hancock’s warnings and board HUNDREDS of flights leaving for ‘amber list’ nations – saying they don’t care about isolating at home for 10 days
- Airports expecting their busiest day of the year, with the easing of restrictions
- Hundreds of holidaymakers said they are flying to the Algarve in Portugal
- No10’s traffic light system has come into force today
The UK’s border rules were branded a ‘joke’ today as Brits ignored Matt Hancock’s pleas to board hundreds of flights bound for ‘amber list’ countries.
Passengers have been taking advantage of at least 340 flights from Heathrow and Gatwick that MailOnline has identified to destinations in the medium-risk category.
They included nine flights to Rome, 21 to Paris and 26 to New York – on what is expected to be one of the busiest days of the year for British airports.
Brits catching flights at Gatwick admitted the Health Secretary’s entreaties only to visit a small set of of ‘green’ rated destinations had not swayed them – and nor had the requirement to isolate at home for 10 days on return.
In another confusing signal, the government has dropped the threat of £5,000 fines for non-essential travel.
Former No10 chief Dominic Cummings complained that the policies were not tough enough to protect public health and the economy this afternoon, while British Airways chief Sean Doyle said the rules on when people are permitted to visit amber countries are ‘not clear’.
Nathan Priestly, 31, from Wokingham in Berkshire, said he was heading to Corfu with five friends. Asked if he minded having to quarantine after returning to England from the Greek island, he said: ‘For me, I work from home at the moment so it’s neither here nor there. I’m still fairly young and fairly active. I haven’t had anything wrong with me, nothing underlying, so for me, a negative test and away you go.’
Other tourists were seen landing in the Algarve in southern Portugal, a green list country, and smiling for the cameras as they stepped into Mediterranean sunshine for the first time since the end of last year.
However, Ryanair passengers flying to Portugal from Birmingham were told to wear their masks or face spending the start of their holiday in a police station. According to LBC, the pilot threatened: ‘This isn’t a kindergarten, this is a two hour flight. If you can’t wear your masks you will be starting your holiday in Portugal in a police station.’
Just 12 countries including Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel are green list countries on the UK traffic light scheme, meaning British holidaymakers are allowed to travel there without quarantining on their return to Britain. However, they are required to take a covid test on or before day two of their arriving back in the UK.
The Government has said that people travelling to amber list countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the US and Canada must quarantine at home and take two tests upon returning.
All travellers to green, amber and red list destinations must also follow the entry requirements of the countries they are heading to. This means while Britons can fly to countries like Portugal, Greece and Italy with proof of negative test, they can only enter countries like Spain if they are citizens and legal residents of the EU, Schengen states, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican, and San Marino, or can demonstrate essential need to enter.
Under the UK’s traffic light scheme, people travelling to red list countries such as India and Pakistan are required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days at a cost of £1,750 upon returning in Britain. Again, government guidance says they will need to follow the local entry requirements and restrictions.
British holidaymakers returning to the UK from amber and red list countries have to complete a passenger locator form providing the results of their covid tests and where they will be quarantining for 10 days.
British holidaymakers arrive at Faro airport in Algarve, south of Portugal, on May 17, 2021
Two passengers wearing face masks wheel their suitcases through Heathrow’s Terminal 5 as the global travel ban is eased
A passenger in a hazmat suit is seen in Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 this morning as covid restrictions ease today
The traffic light system rates countries as green, amber or red based on the risk of importing coronavirus into Britain, with those going to green list countries such as Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel free to travel without quarantining on return
Queues at Terminal 5 formed early this morning, with check-in taking longer as airline staff checked documentation that all passengers were covid-free while BA staff stood at the entrance handing out chocolates to passengers as they said: ‘Welcome back to flying. We’ve missed you.’
Stephen Bough, a 51-year-old company director travelling to Faro with his wife Lucy, 51, and daughter Hannah, 20, said: ‘It’s a fantastic feeling, it’s like being free again. And it’s another step on the road to getting back to normal life. I can’t wait to get back in the sun and just relax because it’s been a very difficult year for us all.’
Hannah said: ‘The first thing I’m going to do when I get to our house is have a cocktail and get in the pool.’ Meanwhile, streams of passengers piled off the Gatwick Express as they took flights to Portugal, Jersey and Jamaica, as well as Antigua, Barcelona, Belfast, Cancun, Guernsey, Paris and Rome.
Brian Douglas, 77, was on his way to Malaga, Spain, to stay at his second home.
HOW DO AMBER LIST TOURIST DESTINATIONS COMPARE TO THE UK?
Dozens of flights to ‘amber list’ countries took off from the UK today as holidaymakers took advantage of legal international travel undeterred by the need for quarantine when they return.
The Government has asked people not to travel to countries on the amber list because of fears about them catching the virus or bringing back a new variant, but it is no longer illegal.
Here’s how the situations in popular destinations compare to the UK’s – Britain has the lowest infection rate and the most people vaccinated, while the US has the most people to have received two doses of a jab:
CASES
(Daily positive tests per million people)
VACCINES
(% of people given 1 dose of a jab)
2ND DOSES
(% of people fully vaccinated)
France
Greece
Canada
Germany
Spain
Italy
US
UK
213
207
160
123
114
113
100
34
30%
27%
44%
36%
32%
31%
47%
54%
13%
15%
4%
11%
15%
14%
37%
30%
Britain has a lower infection rate than any of the other popular destinations, and it has been consistently lower for months
The UK has more people vaccinated once than other nations
But the US has more people who have received both jab doses
In possession of his new blue British passport, he said she saw no reason not to travel.
‘I’ve been fully tested and had my jabs so why should I not go to,’ he said.
‘There is no real reason that people should be stopped from going to Spain or other countries on the amber list.’
Check-in desks at Heathrow’s Terminal Five were busy for the first time in months as British Airways staff said welcomed back passengers.
The airline was operating more than a dozen flights to amber list countries, including those to Marseille and Toulouse in France and Malaga in Spain.
There were also four flights to the USA although only US citizens and Permanent Residents were being allowed to fly to destinations such as Philadelphia, Chicago and Miami.
Travellers returning from countries on the Government’s amber list must quarantine for 10 days and undertake Covid tests on day two and eight. They can also pay extra to be released early from quarantine after five days.
Film director Sarah Arzoinelaurent was off on a 10-day holiday the South of France.
She said: ‘It has been a long 18 months with no travel and I just need a break. I have worked all through the lockdown and in my industry tested three times a week.
‘I feel I deserve a break away and am happy to go into quarantine when I get back.’
Another traveller, on the same BA flight to Marseille, said:’ We have had so many restrictions that it is wrong for the Government to tell us now not to go.
‘I have had a PCR test to show I am fit to fly and will go into self-isolation when I get back. If I am doing everything correctly then I should not be told where I can and cannot go.’
Many of those booked on the afternoon Malaga flight were travelling to homes in Spain.
Sally Langmead, 56, said she had been desperate to escape to the sun and plans to spend at least a month at her home.
‘If the Spanish Government are happy for us to travel, then I see no reason not to go. I’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time and just want to get out there and relax.’
Others travelling to France were nationals returning home to see parents.
Vanessa,40, said people going to see family should not be grouped with tourists and condemned for travelling.
She said:’ I have lived in the UK for six years, but have not seen my parents for months.
‘This is a chance for me to meet up with my family and it is wrong to be told I am doing a bad thing by going to France.
‘I have had three tests before booking the flight and will self-isolate when I arrive. I will also self-isolation when I return to the UK. I can do that as I am working from home.’
Many travellers were unaware that they could use the NHS app to prove they have been vaccinated, after an update for users in England last night effectively made it a covid passport – to the fury of MPs and privacy campaigners who regard the system as a potential breach of human rights.
It comes after Mr Hancock caused chaos by telling people not to go on holiday to whole swathes of Europe despite most of the continent being on the amber list.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng echoed Mr Hancock’s confusing calls this morning as he told Sky: ‘People are allowed to do things but it doesn’t mean everyone should be going away at the same time. I think urging caution makes sense. Yes we can go to another country, but we should take caution.’
The remarks were slammed by travel bosses who accused the Government of needlessly ‘instilling fear’ by discouraging overseas holidays. One industry executive suggested No10’s real concern was a shortage of border staff to police arrivals following scenes of chaos at passport arrivals at Heathrow earlier in the year.
But Mr Cummings waded into the argument this afternoon by arguing that ‘fast hard effective’ action was the ‘best policy for economy AND for reducing deaths/suffering’.
He criticised the focus on civil liberties and trusting people’s common sense, pointing out that there was too much resistance to the restrictive approach taken by many countries in Asia that had deal well with the pandemic.
‘This nonsense is STILL influencing policy, eg our joke borders policy,’ Mr Cummings added.
No10 has come under pressure from aviation bosses to add France, Greece, Spain, the US and the Caribbean to the green list ‘early next month’, with Heathrow’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye telling Sky News: ‘We want to ensure British towels are on the sun loungers this summer.’
But Labour yesterday called for a ‘slow down’ in the lifting of the travel ban, and accused Boris Johnson of ignoring science after he allegedly delayed putting India on the red list so he could strike a trade deal with New Delhi – despite a variant bringing that country’s health system to the brink of collapse.
Passengers at Heathrow Airport as still confident to travel to amber list countries, despite the threat of quarantine when they return to the UK.
Space scientist Simon Thomas said: ‘I live and work in Toulouse, France, so I am going to get back to my job. When I came over here I had the quarantine and have all the tests which was frustrating. I have not been able to travel back and forth much due to the cost of quarantine and how long it takes.’
The 32-year-old, who came back to the UK to look after his mum, added: ‘I have to do a week’s quarantine when I get back to France but I am not too worried about not being able to return to the UK.
‘I have a vaccine tomorrow in Toulouse and I am hoping that France will get on the green list soon as cases drop and I will be able to come back and see my mum in the summer.’
Backpacker Sophie Forde said: ‘I am off to Mexico City for a long-delayed trip. I was meant to leave in January so I am very excited, I have not really planned anything but I just want to get out there and explore.
‘This has been part of a four-year-long ‘gap year’ with lots of travelling so lockdown was really tough waiting around to be able to leave.’
The 25-year-old added: ‘I don’t think there is any quarantine in Mexico so I should be able to get out as soon as I get there, that is part of the reason I chose to go there. I think I might head to Cancun, enjoy the sun and then go for an adventure and make everyone at home jealous.’
Leanne, who was travelling to visit her ill grandmother in Mexico, said: ‘I am just travelling to say my last farewells, I am not too worried about the quarantine as long as I get to see her in time.
So, where IS accepting UK tourists? After Portugal flip-flopped on allowing us in, these are the European countries welcoming Brits… and the ones shutting us out
Tourism is starting to reopen across Europe as vaccine drives ramp up and Covid infections fall across much of the continent
Green list countries
Portugal
Portugal has become much talked-about in recent days: A favourite travel destination of British sun-seekers, it was included on the government’s travel ‘green list’ and initially seemed eager to welcome us from today.
But that was all thrown into chaos this week when it was suddenly announced that a ban on non-essential travel might be extended until May 30, throwing hundreds of people’s plans into doubt.
Portugal has now reversed that stance, saying it will accept tourist arrivals from Britain from today as originally planned.
All arrivals will have to take a PCR test no more than 72 hours beforehand, and bring the negative results with them to be allowed into the country – with those having tickets now in a rush to get the tests sorted.
Gibraltar
People travelling to Gibraltar must present proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival, or take a fast test on arrival at Gibraltar Airport.
Those coming from England can present the NHS app or an NHS letter demonstrating vaccination status, but they cannot use a handwritten NHS covid card as proof of inoculation for travel purposes.
Requirements upon arrival will depend on where you have been in the 14 days prior to your arrival. Requirements depend on whether the countries you have previously visited are on green, amber or red lists.
People who have been to a country on the amber or red list in the previous 14 days will be required to take covid tests. If they have not been fully vaccinated, they will need to self-isolate on arrival in Gibraltar. In all instances, you they complete a Passenger Locator Form.
Iceland
Visitors from any foreign nation are being allowed into the country provided they can show proof of vaccination or a previous covid infection.
Tourists then have to take a PCR test on arrival and wait in their hotel for the results, but border authorities say this will be no longer than 24 hours and is usually over in five or six hours.
There is a complicated list of exemptions for those who are not vaccinated, but it is unlikely that most people will qualify.
Iceland also has the benefit of being on the UK’s green list which comes into force on Monday, meaning you won’t need to quarantine after arriving home.
Amber list countries
Greece
Since April, Greece’s borders have been open to foreign arrivals provided they can show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure or that they have been fully vaccinated with an EU-approved Covid jab.
Arrivals also need to complete a passenger locator form including details of where they have travelled and where they are staying so it can be used by test and trace authorities in the case of an outbreak.
Italy
Prime Minister Mario Draghi said last week that Italy plans to run its own ‘green pass scheme’ which would allow tourists in from any country provided they are vaccinated, have previously been infected, or have tested negative.
Mr Draghi said the scheme would be in place by ‘mid-May’, raising hopes that it might be ready in time for Britain’s rules to relax on May 17.
But since his initial announcement, no further details have been published leading to frustration and confusion among those hoping to travel.
France
Arrivals from the UK will need to complete a ‘sworn statement’ form self-certifying they are not suffering from covid symptoms and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight.
All UK travellers will need to present a negative PCR test result, carried out less than 72 hours before departure.
They should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country.
Passengers arriving in France from the UK will also be required to self-isolate for seven days on arrival, before taking another PCR test. Exit from this self-isolation period is subject to a negative test result.
Spain
Fernando Valdes, Spain’s tourism minister, laid out his plans for reopening the tourist economy last month and predicted the country will be ready to welcome back foreign arrivals in June.
UK travellers are not allowed into Spain unless they can demonstrate an essential need to enter the country.
Only citizens and legal residents of the EU, Schengen states, Andorra, Monaco, The Vatican and San Marino will be granted passage under current restrictions.
Croatia
Tourists are welcome to travel provided they have taken a negative PCR test within 48 hours of departure, have evidence of previous infection, or are fully vaccinated.
Arrivals will also need to provide evidence that they have paid for accommodation within the country – which can include campsites – or own property there.
Travellers are also required to complete a form, which can either be done on arrival or in advance online.
Cyprus
The Mediterranean island is welcoming tourists provided they have been fully vaccinated, can show evidence of a previous infection or have taken a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure.
Travellers also need to register for a flight pass no later than 24 hours before departure.
For those using a PCR test to get into the country, details of the test will need to be entered into the online form, meaning they will have to plan the timing of the test carefully.
Netherlands
An oddball on this list: The Netherlands is allowing tourists into the country but says it strongly discourages people from visiting.
If you do decide to go, then the government advice is to stay in your hotel as much as possible and avoid busy places when you do go out.
Many hotel facilities, including restaurants and pools, are currently closed, and there is a night-time curfew in place from 8pm until 6am.
However, from May 19 restaurant and bar terraces will be allowed to open from midday until 6pm and all non-essential retail is open.
Germany
The country is currently not permitting foreign tourists. You can only enter if you are returning to your place of residence; if you serve in an important role; or there is an urgent need for your travel.
UK nationals resident in Germany must demonstrate proof of residence. If you are not yet in possession of a residence card, you will be required to provide credible evidence that you are resident in Germany.
Red list countries
Turkey
Despite the country being in almost-total lockdown, Turkey is allowing tourists in without a PCR test or evidence of vaccination.
Tourists are largely exempt from the lockdown rules – which have confined Turks to their homes for weeks – while hotels and other businesses involved directly in tourism have been allowed to remain open.
However, many other businesses – such as shops and restaurants – remain closed. City streets are also deserted, which could be a blessing or a curse, depending on your idea of a good holiday.
What does the EU say?
Currently, the EU has adopted a recommendation for all 27 member states to ban non-essential travel from third countries – though this is non-binding and countries can ignore it if they wish.
Just six nations escape the EU’s ban due to low infection rates: Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.
The EU commission last week proposed an update to the guidance which would allow fully-vaccinated citizens of any foreign nation in, provided they have been given an EU-approved jab.
The threshold to get on the ‘low infection’ list would also be raised so more countries can be added, allowing citizens into the EU whether they have been jabbed or not.
However, the guidance still needs to be approved and there is no clear indication of when this might happen. Even then, it would not be binding.
‘Seeing her is more important than my time in quarantine, so even though I have not had a vaccine I am going over there.’
A student, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I am travelling back to Los Angeles, I have been over here for three months studying and now I am desperate to get home. I am not too worried about the quarantine in the US, I can go home and it will be fine for me, the internet just makes things so much easier.’
Travellers at London Heathrow are rushing to catch the first flights to green list Portugal and Gibraltar, as airport staff were seen giving excited passengers bound for Europe gift bags as they arrived at check-in.
Restaurant manager Amanda Brown said she ‘can’t wait’ to be reunited with her boyfriend, who lives in Faro, after eight months apart and six flight cancellations, as she boarded the first green-list flight from Gatwick Airport.
While queuing for the plane, Ms Brown, 48, said: ‘I booked this holiday in December but it has cancelled probably about six times now, so this is the first opportunity I’ve got to fly out.’
When asked how it felt to finally be making the trip, she said: ‘Fantastic, I’m so excited – I didn’t sleep properly last night – so yeah it’s amazing, I love it – it’s really good to see everything going back to some kind of normality.
‘I’m planning to go to the beach and seeing my boyfriend – I haven’t seen him since October so I can’t wait.’ On the testing and airport process, she added: ‘I found it quite easy going through the airport, no queues or anything really.
‘There’s a bit of anxiety on the build-up because obviously you have to take a test before you go, it was a bit anxious waiting for the result to come back through.’
Partners Terry Walby, 53, and Kerry Hallard, 50, were heading to Tavira in Portugal’s Algarve via an easyJet flight to Faro. They own the boutique Tavira House Hotel, which has sadly been unable to open its doors to guests since September last year due to coronavirus.
Mr Walby, from Esher, Surrey, said: ‘We’ve not travelled since the second lockdown. We’re going for business. We’ve got a hotel which has been closed because of lockdown. We’ve not been able to head to it and it’s reopening on June 1. We’re off to make sure everything is in order for when it reopens.
‘The hotel has been closed since the end of September 2020 and we had a few bookings in September last year but that’s it. It has been a tough two years.
‘It’s a nine bedroom boutique hotel located in an 160 year old building in the heart of the city, which has been lovingly restored. We booked the flight just over a week ago. We’re travelling with EasyJet to Faro then heading to Tavira in the Algarve.
‘We’ve both been vaccinated with one shot, but we had to get a test beforehand too. It cost £120 each.’
When asked whether they were planning to use the NHS app to prove they had been vaccinated, both said they had not heard about the updated feature.
Gary Danielz, 53, and his wife Bella Danielz, 53, a nurse, were heading off to Portugal for their first holiday in a year and couldn’t wait to arrive for a well-earned break.
Mr Danielz, a software engineer from Maidstone, Kent, said: ‘We’re excited to be off. It’s the first time I’ve been out of the house in a year. I’ve got the curse of having to work from home.
‘We booked the flights about two weeks ago. We’re heading to Porto with TAP then making our way to Braganca, a city in the north of Portugal. We had PCR tests before coming here. They were £99 each. They’re making a lot of money out of the tests, put it that way.
‘I’m not anxious about the Indian variant. My only concern is if they don’t let us fly or if they don’t let us come back. I’m of the opinion that we’ve reached herd immunity.’
Mrs Danielz added: ‘I’m Portugese so normally I go and visit once a year, but not last year. We’re off for a six day break – it’s just what we need after this year.’
Steve Dewhurst, 64, was lugging suitcases up a travelator into the terminal building behind his wife Zoya Dewhurst, 58. Mr Dewhurst, who was on his first ever holiday to Portugal, said he was excited to set off on his EasyJet flight to Faro.
The construction company director from Crowborough, East Sussex, said: ‘We’re off to the Algarve. It’s my first time going there. I’m ready for a break to be honest.
‘I’ve gone abroad a couple of times since the pandemic hit, to Angola and Saudi Arabia, but it has always been for work. I’m vaccinated but we had to pay for covid tests too in order to fly. They were £160 each.
‘I’m excited for the sun. Hopefully it’ll be better weather than it is here. The last time I travelled anywhere it was last Christmas so I think I’m due for a break.’
When asked whether he planned on using the NHS app to prove that he had been vaccinated, he said he had no idea about the feature.
Roberto Almeida, 53, was heading to Portugal for a week to visit his sister in Porto who he hasn’t been able to see for over a year because of Covid-19. He was flying directly to Porto with TAP.
Mr Almeida, a martial arts coach from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, said: ‘I’m just heading off for a holiday in Porto.
‘It’s the first time I’ve travelled abroad since the start of the pandemic. I’m staying with my sister there. I’m very excited to get on-board because I’ve not seen my sister in the last year.
‘Covid has made it very difficult to plan to travel. I booked the flight one or two weeks ago. It’s the first time I’ve travelled abroad since the start of the pandemic.’
Mr Almeida, who is originally from Brazil, said he had not had a PCR test prior to flying, but seemed unconcerned, saying he was already fully vaccinated.
He added: ‘They didn’t say anything about needing a PCR test. I’m fully vaccinated anyway.’
Martyn Jackson, 33, arrived at Gatwick with his violin. The classical violinist from East Grinstead, East Sussex, was heading to Portugal for a month with work.
He said: ‘I’m excited to head off into the sun. I booked my flights a couple of months ago. Luckily, I’m a resident of Portugal so I’ve been able to come since 17th April.
‘I moved out of London and was meant to be working in Portugal but then in January this year I had to come back to the UK because of covid and the fact they were closing all the flights. I work with an orchestra in Portugal and they shut down too.
‘I’m taking the flight to Porto today but I’ll be staying in Porto and Lisbon and I’m trying to head to Marrakech in Morocco for a few days too. But we’ll see how that goes when I get there
‘I tried to get the vaccine before coming, but they wouldn’t give it to me because they only had the AstraZeneca version and they weren’t giving it to under 40s.’
Colin Stokes, 63, and his wife Ellen Stokes, 62, were among the passengers catching the first flight out of Gatwick to Faro in Portugal. They were taking the three hour flight to Faro with easyJet with their two children, before heading to the city of Albufeira, where they have family.
Mr Stokes, from Ramsgate, who runs a plumbing merchant, said: ‘We booked about 6 months ago and we’re lucky to be able to go today.
‘We’ve been vaccinated so we didn’t think we had to have the PRC test so we had to rush around trying to find one. We got one on Friday afternoon in the end.
‘They were £150 each. It cost £600 in total – it’s quite a lot.This is the first time we’ve gone on holiday since lockdown really. We’ve got a granddaughter over there who is three months old and we’ve never seen.
‘We’re very emotional. We just can’t wait to see her. It’s fantastic.’ Mrs Stokes added: ‘My mum was coming with us but she packed it at the last minute. She was worried about the Indian variant. She’s really concerned now and won’t go out of her home. It’s just us for now.’
Claudia Trindade, 32, was pushing a trolley packed with bags and suitcases up the conveyer, as she prepared to return to Portugal for good after eight years in the UK.
The Portuguese national had worked in intensive care wards at the peak of the pandemic and was ready for a well-earned break. She said: ‘I managed to make a few trips back home when travel restrictions were relaxed during the pandemic, but now I’m returning for good.
‘I’m a nurse and I’m tired. It was too much. It was incredibly difficult and all the team are really tired. I’m a little anxious about flying. I just want to go home. It’s more the anxiety to finally be here though.
‘I will take a break when I get back to Porto. At the moment they are looking for nurses for the covid areas.
‘I might go back to nursing later, but for now I will take a break. I’m fully vaccinated. Intensive care nurses were some of the first to be offered vaccines, but I still had to take a PCR test. It was £100 and I had it on Saturday, 48 hours before. They’re usually around £150.’
Some people, including 21-year-old Michelle Clark, admitted she was ‘quite nervous’ about getting through security, which has been beefed up with temperature scanners to meet covid safety requirements.
Care home worker Theresa Depino, who is travelling with a friend to Faro, revealed that her holiday to Portugal is her first holiday since September.
‘It has been a really long winter for me with the lockdown and trying to keep the care home going all through the last year so it will be so nice,’ she told MailOnline. ‘I am just going to sleep and get in the sun and relax for a week, I have earned it.’
Mike, Sharon, Isabella and Evan, who declined to give their surnames, said: ‘We are so excited to get away, this is our first holiday for almost two years.
‘We are heading to Portugal for a couple of weeks and staying in an Airbnb. We just want to get some sun really and to escape the rain. We have been stuck in the country for literally two years now so it is just so nice for us to get away. So far we haven’t really got any plans for when we get there.
‘We are just going to see what it is like when we are over there but we just want to see the sun!’
Businessman James Fitzgerald, 42, revealed that he booked his flight just minutes after the Government placed Portugal on the green list of countries.
Downing Street released the full list of countries on green, amber and red lists ahead of a loosening of restrictions tomorrow
Dominic Cummings waded into the borders argument this afternoon by arguing that ‘fast hard effective’ action was the ‘best policy for economy AND for reducing deaths/suffering’
Hundreds of people seen queueing at check-in at Terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport today as global travel curbs ease
Passengers wearing face masks at Gate A13 boarding their flight to Lisbon, Portugal from London Heathrow today
Passengers with suitcases seen queueing at check-in at London Heathrow as global travel restrictions are eased
Zoya, 58, and Steve, 64, Dewhurst (left) who are travelling to Portugal today from Gatwick Airport. Pictured right: Gary, 53, and Bella, 53, Daniels who are travelling to Portugal from Gatwick today
He beamed: ‘I feel like a free man again and I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, as have a lot of other people in the country, so I don’t mind going through a few extra checks.
‘I’m a very keen golfer and am just looking forward to playing a few rounds, enjoying the sun, the beach and having a few drinks. It’s been a very tough year and being able to go on holiday will give all of us a lift.’
Michael Cohen, 56, who owns a holiday home in the Algarve, said: ‘I feel like a prisoner whose just been released. It’s been a long time coming. I just want to lie in the sun and enjoy the beach.
‘I must admit that I’m a bit nervous about flying and there’s a lot more paperwork to organise if you want to get on a plane. But it’s really worth it because I could do with a really nice holiday.’
Jessie Redhead, 32, smiled and said: ‘Freedom and it’s wonderful. The first thing I’m doing after I get to my hotel is to get in my bikini and hit the beach. I’m desperate for a bit of sun.’
All passengers flying to the country had to provide a negative PCR test and complete a Portuguese Government passenger locator form. Even airline staff admitted that they were excited about the return of passengers.
BA ground staff member Jurian, who was standing at the entrance to Terminal 5 handing out chocolates, said: ‘At times over the past year the airport has been like a ghost town. So, we’re just happy to see people back and hope that things return to normal very soon.
‘It’s a great day not just for the travellers but also for us.’
A cabin crew member who spent part of her furlough helping out at a vaccination centre said it was ‘absolutely lovely’ to be working again on the first day of the Government’s easing of foreign travel restrictions.
Kim Mariani, 42, from Portsmouth, was among the team serving customers on board a TUI flight from London’s Gatwick Airport to the Portuguese island of Madeira – a green-list destination.
Passengers burst into applause as the plane touched down on Monday morning.
It marked Ms Mariani’s first flight back at work since January when her second period of furlough in the past year had begun.
She said: ‘This is such a social job, we fly with different people every day, chatting to passengers. So it’s so nice to be back and it’s so nice to take people on holidays. Holidays are so important to people to spend time with their family and relax.’
Ms Mariani, who has nearly 20 years of flight experience, said many cabin crew colleagues had volunteered at Covid vaccination centres, with some even administering jabs.
She said furlough had been ‘strange’, adding: ‘We’ve been one of the last businesses to get back so it’s been really hard. One of the hardest bits is seeing everyone else get back to normal whereas you’re not.’
Essy Kamaie, a passenger on the first green-list flight from Gatwick Airport to Faro in Portugal, said he was ‘excited’ to travel abroad after having a previous holiday cancelled, and booked his ticket only two hours before the flight.
Mr Kamaie, a 65-year-old property developer, said while waiting in the queue for the plane: ‘I’m excited, I was disappointed because I booked to go to Malaga but I’ve been refused, I have a property there and we couldn’t go but I’m now going to Faro.
‘It was very easy actually, it was all online, we booked it this morning at about 7.30 – a few hours ago.’
Kevin and Pauline Nash from Essex were among the first to board a green-list flight to Portugal from Gatwick Airport. In the queue for the plane to Faro, Mr Nash, a company chairman, 66, said: ‘We’re very excited to go on holiday, we haven’t been since last September.
‘This is the first time we’ve booked and it’s the first flight out, so we’re delighted – and it’s been a long, cold winter at home so we’re looking forward to it.’
When asked about what it was like booking the journey and going through the airport with coronavirus measures in place, he added: ‘It’s been a great experience so far, very smooth, the airport has been particularly empty which is nice, no hitch at all.’
When asked what they planned to do in Faro, he said: ‘Open the doors of our villa and look out to sea and just go ‘Ahhh’.’ Ms Nash, a housewife, 54, added: ‘And then get a cocktail. ‘It’s just the freedom again to be able to do this – and it feels safe.’
Royal Mail postman Gary Underdown, 33, has said he was ‘shocked’ at how quickly he and his family got through airport security on the morning of their flight to Faro in Portugal.
Travelling from Gatwick Airport with his partner Georgina Raven, who also works for Royal Mail, and their young son, he said: ‘We can’t wait to get there, we’ve been waiting a long time.’
When asked what they plan to do in Faro, he said: ‘Not a lot. We’re key workers, we work for Royal Mail, we’ve been working a lot and very hard for the last year so we just want a break.
‘Sit at the pool, do nothing, walk up into the mountains, that’s all we want to do.’
On getting through the airport with coronavirus measures in place on the first day of green list travel, he said: ‘I was shocked, we got here really early expecting the six-hour queues, and we walked straight to the front, straight through and sat there for three-and-a-half hours waiting.’
Grandfather Robert Hatfield is travelling to Bahrain to be reunited with his grandchildren: ‘This will be the first time in a long time, it is getting on for two years since I have seen them,’ he said.
‘The internet has helped but it doesn’t make up for it physically. I would not have been so quick off the mark if my very cute three-year-old granddaughter hadn’t kept asking when she was next going to see me.
‘I had a very strong bond with my grandparents when I was a child, a week seemed a long time when I was three so a year or 18 months is an eternity. I was just concerned she would forget who I was.’
The 67-year-old, who is travelling for two weeks, added: ‘I am really lucky to have had both vaccinations, so I am really happy to be travelling and Bahrain has had really good uptake.
‘I have made some really good friends over there so I am looking forward to seeing them and getting into the sun. But, most of all, I can’t wait to see my daughter and my grandchildren.’
Holidaymaker Bruce Smith said: ‘We are off for a holiday and a bit of work in Portugal, we just want to rest and relax as safely as possible. I am a director of an engineering company and it has been tough.
‘It has been our busiest year ever, people have not been able to go away so they have put all their money into landscaping and tree surgery instead, at least some good has come out of it. The last year has been manic so I will be doing as little as possible. We are going for a week and I just want to forget about work.’
The 47-year-old from Devon is confident he can avoid any travel hiccups: ‘I am not worried about getting back here, I am a little bit concerned about getting there but the Portuguese don’t seem worried. Our tests here came back really fast so I think we will be fine.’
Retired couple Keith and Janice Tomsett, aged 72 and 71, from West Chiltington in West Sussex, were ‘looking forward to’ their break to the Portugese island of Madeira.
As they prepared to board their flight at Gatwick Airport’s north terminal, Mr Tomsett said: ‘We’ve gone through all the hoops, PCR testing… after 15 months of being locked up this is unbelievably good.’
He joked: ‘It was even worth getting up at 3 o’clock this morning’. The couple, who are both vaccinated against Covid-19, said they found their pre-flight drive through testing at the airport ‘easy’, but Mr Tomsett expressed frustration at the need to complete another test after returning to England from their holiday.
He said: ‘We’re fully vaccinated, we’re going to a green list country and we will be having a test 48 hours before we fly, so why we have to have another one two days later I do not understand.’
Some people, including 21-year-old Michelle Clark, admitted she was ‘quite nervous’ about getting through security, which has been beefed up with temperature scanners to meet covid safety requirements
Care home worker Theresa Depino, who is travelling with a friend to Faro, revealed that her holiday to Portugal is her first holiday since September. ‘It has been a really long winter for me with the lockdown and trying to keep the care home going all through the last year so it will be so nice,’ she told MailOnline
Passengers wearing face masks pushing trolleys loaded with suitcases through Heathrow’s Terminal 5 this morning
Both travellers, who booked their holiday in October on the ‘off chance’ it would go ahead, said they would not travel to Madeira if it was not on the green list.
The pair said they did not have any health worries and would take ‘the normal safe guards’.
Commenting on the Government’s green list of quarantine-free destinations, Mr Tomsett said: ‘I think you have to err on the side of caution. They’ve probably taken more caution than they need. But I’ve never got Covid and I wouldn’t want to go there.’
Speaking to MailOnline, business traveller Yaseen Akhtarwas, 28, worried about the impact holidaymakers might have on the airport. ‘I have been travelling for work all through lockdown,’ he said.
‘We had to move our office to Amsterdam because of Brexit so I have been back and forth.
‘It is busier than it has been. Travelling through lockdown has been a nuisance, coming back last month it was a mess. I waited here for three hours to get back and having to book the two tests is expensive.
‘It is going to be packed unless they sort it out, it was already packed last month with only business travellers so they need to get more staff on the desks here. I am really looking forward to getting away for a holiday, I think it will be quite a while till I get one though.’
British tourists were handed face masks, sanitiser and asked to provide full details about their stay in Portugal as they touched down in the country for the start of long-awaited sunshine breaks.
All Brits arriving the country were also warned by officials at Faro airport of the strict rules for wearing face masks in public places, which includes keeping them on while on the beach or they could be hit with hefty £100 fines.
Passengers arriving were asked by immigration officials to produce proof of a negative PCR test and show that they had completed a locator form, with details of where they are staying before being allowed to proceed to the baggage hall.
Amongst the first Brits to arrive in Faro was honeymoon couple Siddhant Majithia, 26 and his wife Hemisha, 24.
The young couple only married two weeks ago and admitted that they were not looking forward to the prospect of honeymooning in Britain and were relieved when the Government place Portugal on the green list.
Siddhant, an optician from Leicester revealed that they only booked their Portugal honey last Thursday.
He said: ‘It’s great to get away and we’re very lucky to have got on this plane. We had to cancel three other honeymoons before this one because of the travel restrictions.
‘It was very frustrating and getting us down because the thought of a honeymoon in England with unpredictable wedding wasn’t very exciting.’
Hemisha, a physiotherapist added: ‘We were thinking of doing a road trip to the Lake District, which isn’t exactly a memorable honeymoon given the unpredictable British weather.
‘Now we’ve got the chance for a great break in the sun and I’m really looking forward to it.’
Romina Depino, 28 and her sister Teresa, 43 said that Portugal was their first break in over a year.
Teresa, from Surrey said: ‘It feels great to be here. The sun is shining, it’s warm and I just want to lie by the pool and chill. I’m a care worker for elderly people and it’s been a really difficult year and I really need this holiday.
‘We were meant to be going to Turkey but then it was placed on the red list, so we’ve ended up in Portugal, which isn’t bad really.’
Onel Hernandez, 28 arrived in Faro with his fiancé Kirsha, 27, her sister Hazel, 18 and their daughter Dreamy, 2.
The family revealed that they were staying for two weeks and had been saving up all year for the break.
Onel, who lives in Norwich said: ‘It’s great to be back on holiday and something we’ve really missed. The one good thing about the lockdown is that it gave me a chance to save some money for a decent family holiday.
‘We only booked the holiday two weeks, and it was quite expensive because there is a lot of demand for Portugal. But it’s worth it because given what the whole world has gone through over the past year, we all need a holiday.’
Travel bosses are urging the Government to add ‘most of Europe’ to the green list as soon as possible after Mr Hancock caused chaos during a media round yesterday by telling people not to fly out to amber list countries – most of Europe – for holidays.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye stressed the need for France, Greece and Spain to be added to the green list this summer, and the US and Caribbean ‘early next month’.
He said: ‘The travel industry continues to face real pressure. As is well known, the profits travel companies make in the summer are used to help drive them through the rest of the year.
‘Without that season many companies will not make it until next year. That is half a million UK jobs at risk. This is not a choice between profits and public health, we can have both.’
Mr Holland-Kaye stressed that the industry had significantly more tools at its disposal this year than it did in 2020 to keep passengers safe.
He highlighted new and improved testing facilities, social distancing measures, stringent cleaning procedures and the impact of vaccines on the risk of transmission.
But he called for an end to the ‘burden’ of high cost PCR tests on fully vaccinated passengers, saying that the risk of transmission halved among those who had received two doses of the jab.
He called on the Government to move towards a system where passengers took lateral flow tests first, adding that gold standard PCR tests could then be used to confirm positive results.
Mr Holland-Kaye also called on the Government to cut VAT on coronavirus tests, to help drive down the prices.
He added: ‘We are ready to go. We have spent the last year adapting to these unprecedented changes. We are not calling for a return to unregulated travel yet. But we are calling on the Government to expand the green list at the beginning of June, particularly to include the US and the Caribbean.
‘We also want to remove the need for fully vaccinated customers to take a test and remove VAT to bring the cost down.’
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren, speaking on Gatwick Airport’s runway today, said: ‘I am optimistic about (summer holidays later this year) because the latest data that is available means that most of Europe could actually go on to that green list of destinations, and I urge the Government to look at and exercise that data.
‘That is what I’m expecting to happen, because that is what’s happening as we speak right now in the rest of Europe. Otherwise the Germans are going to beat the Brits to the sun loungers and for no good reason at all.’
When asked how it felt to be welcoming the first holidaymakers on to planes for several months, he said: ‘I’m so excited, as is everyone who works in easyJet as well, and also the passengers that are now onboard as well.
‘Today is an important day because now people can actually start to travel, and now we’re just looking for that green list of countries to be expanded, which we believe it is safe to do so because that is what the latest data suggests that scientifically that can be done.’
Mr Lundgren said the ‘success of the vaccination programme’ in the UK and Europe has been ‘key’ to allowing foreign travel, on the first day that people have been allowed to fly from England and Wales to green list countries.
When asked if there were blue skies ahead for the travel industry, he said: ‘I believe so, and the key to that is clearly the success of the vaccination programme that is now being rolled out, not only in the UK but we also see that taking place across many other European markets.
‘That is the key to restarting travel in a safe way.’ He added: ‘The latest data suggests that most of Europe could actually already from right now go on to that green list of categories.
‘And we know there is huge pent-up demand for people to not only go on holidays but to visit friends and family that they haven’t been able to see because of the pandemic and the fact that it has been illegal to travel so it’s a big day today for us.’
He added: ‘I believe that the green list is cautious, but it’s a first step because the travel ban is removed.’
Mr Doyle told BBC Breakfast that the pandemic ‘has been tough for our people’ as he proclaimed: ‘It’s great to see all of our staff back today. They can’t wait to meet our customers and they’re very excited to be part of rebuilding aviation.’
Asked if travellers will face increased prices, Mr Doyle responded: ‘What we’re seeing are very competitive prices out there but also great flexibility. So I think in terms of creating options to book, it’s kind of the best of both worlds today for travellers. There’s a lot of airlines out there competing for business, and we will always be competitive.’
Mr Doyle added that he expects travel restrictions to be eased for countries which are ‘vaccinating at pace’. He said: ‘The US has vaccinated 59 per cent of all adults, and infections are falling, so we’d be very optimistic about the United States.
‘And if we look at places like Germany and you look at France, again they’re making great progress, as is Europe. So we think Europe and the US certainly should be in scope for inclusion in the green list as we see the trends on vaccination and prevalence.’
Passengers queueing at check-in at Terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport as the global travel ban is lifted by the Government
Passengers wearing face masks at Gate A13 boarding their flight to Lisbon, Portugal from London Heathrow today
Passengers wearing face masks at Gate A13 boarding their flight to Lisbon, Portugal from London Heathrow today
Mr Doyle said the airline has received ‘an awful lot of interest’ from people planning trips ‘to reunite with their loved ones’. Speaking from Heathrow Airport, he told BBC Breakfast: ‘There’s a human cost to this, in that a lot of people have been separated from friends and family for over 12 months now.
‘That’s a segment that we see grow, and a lot of people who are here today are taking part in the opportunity to reunite after a long period of separation.’
But he conceded that the amber list rules were causing confusion.
‘The framework is there to deal with risk and I think if people comply with the framework, that’s ultimately achieving what it was designed to achieve,’ Mr Doyle said.
‘I think there are many reasons why people need to travel, and the advice is not clear in that regard.’
Paul Charles, chief executive and founder of the respected travel firm The PC Agency, accused the Government of ‘trying to play down travel’ because of concerns about border staff shortages.
He said: ‘The Government has to change its message. It is not illegal to travel, you can travel safely and responsibly to any country if they will let you in.
‘And many British travellers will want to see their families who they haven’t seen in over a year. Now is the time to travel safely. But they are still trying to instill fear into people at a time when the most vulnerable have been jabbed and mortalities are at a record low.’
The travel expert said that ticket sales data showed that people were ignoring the amber list advice and booking trips to coincide with the end of the official travel ban.
Booking website Skyscanner found bookings to Italy increased by 63 per cent week on week once the relaxation of travel restrictions was announced. Bookings to France rose by 41 per cent and Spain bookings went up by 39 per cent. In comparison, bookings to Portugal rose by 616 per cent.
Mr Charles added: ‘The traffic light system is in danger of being out of date before the bulk of it comes into practice because people will vote with their feet.’
Tim Alderslade, of industry body Airlines UK, said: ‘The whole point of the tiers system is that restrictions are built in to mitigate the risk. We strongly believe that the green list can be extended at the next review point to include the most popular European destinations and the United States.’
Almost the whole of Europe, North America and large parts of the Middle East and East Asia are on the Government’s amber list, with people returning from these countries required to quarantine. However, they can leave isolation if they have a negative PCR test taken on day five.
Tour operators including Tui, easyJet Holidays and British Airways Holidays are planning to run trips to countries including Malta, Antigua and the Canary Islands – with Tui yesterday offering up to 51 per cent off holidays to the Canaries as early as next week.
The Government has said it will review the green list every three weeks, starting early next month.
Critics have warned that tougher action should have been taken sooner against India, which was only added to the ‘red list’ on April 23, two weeks after neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh – despite reports that the virus was bringing the country’s health system to the brink of collapse.
Yesterday Mr Hancock defended the timing of travel restrictions on India but dodged questions on whether the decision was linked to Downing Street’s planned trade mission.
The Health Secretary argued in a round of interviews that testing rates were lower in Pakistan at the time, and that the proportion of arrivals testing positive for covid was three times higher than from India.
But data from Public Health England shows that 4.8 per cent of the 3,345 people landing in Britain from India between March 25 and April 7 tested positive, compared to just 0.1 per cent of people in England.
Official figures also show Bolton and Blackburn are the most infectious parts of the country, with a doubling in cases in the past week largely as a result of the more transmissible Indian variant.
It is the latest statistic to be brandished at Mr Johnson, with pressure growing over his decision to delay banning travel from the Asian nation until late April amid allegations that he refrained from doing so for fear of offending Narendra Modi and torpedoing the chance to strike a major trade deal.
Labour chairwoman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Yvette Cooper called for a ‘slow down’ in the easing of travel restrictions alongside her colleague Steve Reed, the Shadow Communities Secretary, who accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of ‘not always following the science in the way he ought to be doing’.
Though SAGE scientist Professor John Edmunds urged the country not to panic over the new variant, he admitted that the spread of the variant could have been delayed had the border to India been closed more quickly. This could prove to be critical as No10 accelerates its vaccine roll-out so that a million jabs are given out per day in a race against the Indian variant.
The UK’s daily death toll has doubled on last week, from two on May 9 to four yesterday – bringing the UK total to 127,679. Daily covid cases across the country rose by eight per cent in a week, according to official figures
An emergency meeting will be held by experts at the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies committee on Thursday after it was found that India’s Covid variant is now dominant in five local authorities in England. There are mounting concerns that it is more infectious than the currently dominant Kent strain
Your guide to FREEDOM: From pints in pubs, movies on the big screen and that long-awaited hug with gran… vital Q&A on today’s lifting of lockdown rules
By MARK DUELL FOR MAILONLINE
People across England began enjoying a series of newfound freedoms today as indoor hospitality returned and hugs with family and friends were allowed again.
The next stage of the post-lockdown roadmap went ahead as planned at midnight, with up to six people or two different households now allowed to meet indoors.
Hugs and other physical contact between households are now permitted for the first time since Covid-19 restrictions began more than a year ago in March 2020.
Pubs and restaurants can now welcome customers back indoors, visits to the homes of friends and family can resume and the foreign holiday ban has ended.
Cinemas, hotels and B&Bs also reopened, although anyone visiting a pub must remain seated while eating or drinking – and nightclubs remain closed for now.
Here, MailOnline looks at what your newfound freedoms are from today:
Can people come over to my house again?
Yes. Up to six people from multiple households or an unlimited number of people from two households can now visit you inside your house again.
Can people stay over at my house again?
Yes. People from outside your household are now allowed to stay overnight, as long as you stick to within the rule of six or two households.
Can I still meet people outside?
Yes. You can now meet in groups of up to 30 people outside, but bigger groups are illegal.
A member of staff serves food to customers at the Northwestern pub in Liverpool this morning
Can I hug my friends and family again?
Yes. The Government has said you can now hug ‘close friends and family’ from outside your own household – for the first time since the pandemic began.
However, people should ‘exercise their own personal judgement in line with the risks.’ There is no legal definition on who ‘close friends and family’ are.
Wider social distancing rules remain in place in adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings, the Government said.
Can I sit inside a pub again?
Yes, indoor hospitality has resumed – so you can sit inside a pub or restaurant with people from other households, as long as the rule of six (or two households) is met.
Is there a substantial meal or curfew requirement for pubs?
No. As with step two on April 12, venues do not have to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor is there a curfew.
The National Youth Choir of Scotland meet on Calton Hill in Edinburgh to sing this morning
Can I stand at the bar?
No. Customers still have to order, eat and drink while seated at a hospitality venue – even though they are now allowed inside.
Are indoor entertainment venues now allowed to reopen?
Yes. Cinemas, theatres, museums and indoor children’s play areas can all now reopen, but must follow guidelines on social distancing and face masks.
Concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia are also now allowed to reopen, with larger events in all venues able to resume with capacity limits (see below).
Sunny Jouhal, general manager of the lastminute.com London Eye, stands on top of a London Eye pod to celebrate the re-opening of the attraction today
Do venues face capacity limits?
Yes. Larger performances and sporting events are now capped in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full, whichever is a lower number. For outdoor venues the cap is 4,000 people or half-full – again, whichever is lower.
In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people are now able to attend – or a quarter-full, whichever is lower.
Will social distancing and face masks rules remain for now?
Yes. The one-metre (3ft) rule remains in place in public settings such as pubs, shops and restaurants. You should wear a face mask when walking around these places.
What about children wearing masks in schools?
Secondary school children no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms and corridors from today. However, those aged 11 and above are still required to wear the masks in public settings such as shops, unless they have a medical exemption.
Ministers said infection rates among students and staff continue to decrease in line with wider community transmission, but twice weekly home testing will remain.
Guests at Studley Castle Hotel in Warwickshire eat at its restaurant, in a picture issued today
Can students now attend university lectures in person again?
Yes. All university students in England can return to campus today for in-person teaching. They will be expected to get tested for Covid-19 twice a week.
Most students, apart from those on critical courses, were told not to travel back to term-time accommodation as part of the third national lockdown in January.
Students on practical courses, who require specialist equipment and facilities, began returning to face-to-face teaching on March 8. But it is estimated that about half of university students have not been eligible to return to in-person lessons.
Charlotte Griffiths, 25, with her three-year-old son Robert, from Morpeth, Northumberland, at the Great North Museum in Newcastle today
Can I go on holiday abroad again?
Yes, but with many restrictions. Last Friday, the UK Government cleared just 12 destinations for quarantine-free tourist trips for Britons from May 17.
However, many of the destinations are remote islands or have very strict entry measures or blanket bans on UK tourists, further reducing the list of options.
Portugal and Gibraltar are the only countries on the ‘green list‘ that most Britons will realistically be able to visit for a warm weather holiday this month.
You can technically also go on holiday to ‘amber list’ and ‘red list’ countries again too, but you will need to complete a period of quarantine as follows:
For amber list, you must quarantine at home for ten days on your return and take a PCR test on days two and eight – as well as a lateral flow test before the return flight.
Or there is an alternative option that you could pay for an additional ‘Test to Release’ on day five to end self-isolation early. There is also a chance the country turns red.
Those returning from a red list country must stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel for 11 nights upon their return at a cost of £1,750.
Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro at Gatwick Airport this morning
Is there a new limit on wedding numbers?
Yes. Up to 30 people can now attend weddings. This limit also applies to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Are funerals also now limited to 30 people?
No. There is now no limit of the number of mourners at funerals, although the venue must operate in a socially distanced way and within capacity guidelines.
Can I stay overnight somewhere with people from another family?
Yes. The rest of the accommodation sector can now reopen, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs – and people from different households can share the same room.
Up until May 17, if you wanted to stay at a hotel or self-catering accommodation, you could only do so with members of your own household or support bubble.
A room is prepared for guests at the Hilton Metropole Brighton Hotel, in a picture issued today
Can I go to indoor sport classes now?
Yes. All indoor adult group sports and exercise classes were allowed again from today, five weeks after gyms were allowed to reopen under step two on April 12.
Are closed parts of leisure centres now allowed to reopen?
Yes. Saunas and steam rooms are now allowed to reopen, following on from swimming pools and gyms on April 12.
Are there limits on numbers in support groups?
Yes. The Government has said 30 people can now able to attend a support group or parent and child group. The limit does not include children aged under five.
Have restrictions on care home visiting changed?
Yes. Care home visiting has been eased further, with residents able to have up to five named visitors and more freedom to make ‘low risk visits’ out of the home.
May Morris is hugged by her granddaughter Francesca Royle this morning in Carlisle
Has the guidance on working from home changed?
No. People are still being advised to ‘continue to work from home where they can’.
Are there businesses that still cannot reopen?
Yes. Nightclubs are the only businesses that must remain shut until at least June 21.
Is there a confirmed date for when all Covid rules will cease?
Not yet. The Government hopes that on June 21 it will be able to drop all legal limits on social contact, but this will be confirmed nearer the time.
Before this date, the Government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures such as face masks and guidance on working from home.
Though the Government is continuing with today’s relaxation, Boris Johnson has warned the Indian variant could jeopardise plans to end legal restrictions on June 21.
Why can we now move into Step 3 today?
The Government has set four tests to further ease restrictions, which have now been met. These are that:
- The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully;
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated;
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS;
- Assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.
It also comes after the UK Chief Medical Officers confirmed last week that the UK Covid-19 alert level should move from level four to level three.
