UK Travel Update: Which Countries Could Be Green Listed Including Saint Lucia

Brits looking to book a last minute holiday abroad this summer will no doubt have kept an eye out for updates to UK traffic lights.

The Green List and Green Watchlists are the most tempting options, as they don’t require self-isolation or quarantine when you’re back in the UK, and only require one PCR test.

(The difference between the two is that the Green Watch List has destinations with a higher risk of turning orange.)

It should be noted that England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have their own listings, so always check based on where you live, but the listings generally tend to be nearly identical. .

There is no specific threshold that a country must cross to be placed on the green list; rather, it is a combination of a number of factors.

These can include variations present in one destination, testing schedules and the percentage of tests that come back positive, travel links from one country to other destinations where cases are increasing, and aggregate data such as the number of cases.

Currently, the majority of destinations are on the Amber List, requiring 10-day self-isolation in the UK as well as PCR testing on days two and eight. (However, double-bitten Britons can deflect self-isolation).

So where might we add to the Allow List in next week’s update? We take a look at countries that could be on / off the green list below …

Amber countries that could go green

There are so many factors that go into determining whether a country is placed on the green, orange, or red list, but these are the orange destinations where the number of cases tends to decrease or be low, and therefore could be. candidates for the green list.

Albania: With a low number of cases, Albania could be one of the countries to be added to the green list. However, it still has a relatively small vaccine rollout with around 19% of its population estimated to have been injected.

Andorra: It is estimated that Andorra has vaccinated around 53% of its population. It currently has a low number of cases, although these are slowly increasing, which could make it one for the green watch list.

Belize: Belize reports a daily average of around 30 new coronavirus cases and has vaccinated around 21% of its population, so it could be one of the green watch list.

Czech Republic: With 47% of its population estimated to be vaccinated and currently at 1% of its peak, the Czech Republic could be one of the biggest contenders for the green lists.

Latvia: Another country with low numbers – it is currently reporting an average of 47 cases – Latvia could be one of the destinations added to the list of countries without quarantine.

Luxembourg: Luxembourg reports around 80 new infections every day, but these numbers are steadily decreasing. Add in the fact that the country has vaccinated around half of its population, and that could be one for next week’s update.

Poland: Poland reports around 1 infection per 100,000 people and the vaccine rollout is successful, with around 44% of its population having been bitten.

Slovakia: Slovakia reports a daily average of 38 new coronavirus infections and is also believed to have affected around 38% of its population.

Slovenia: With around 70 new cases reported every day, around 4% of its peak, Slovenia could be one of the contenders for the Green Watch List.

Saint Kitts and Nevis: The Caribbean hotspot has seen a steady decline in the number of coronavirus cases, and the fact that it is an island could work in its favor.

St. LUCIA: Another Caribbean island with a low number of cases, Saint Lucia could be on the green watch list, although it is estimated that it has only vaccinated around 14% of its population.

Sweden: The country is at around 6% of its peak with 27 infections per 100,000 people reported last week. Its addition to the green list will depend on factors including its increase in the coming week.

Hotspots likely to remain on the Amber List

Cyprus: Cyprus is currently at around 92% of its peak with a daily average of around 934 new infections. Those numbers will need to drop significantly before the sun-drenched hotspot can be moved to a green box.

France: France is currently reporting a daily average of 19,436 new coronavirus infections, so it is unlikely to go green anytime soon. Currently, anyone returning from France must self-isolate upon return to the UK, regardless of their vaccination status.

Greece: Greece is currently reporting a daily average of 2,667 new infections, so it is unlikely to turn green anytime soon.

Spain: Spain reports an average of 25,616 new cases every day and is currently at around 70% of its peak. There are also fears that Spain may be added to the ‘amber plus’ category, where anyone returning to the UK will have to self-isolate regardless of their vaccination status.

Portugal: The sun-drenched hotspot reports around 3,105 new infections every day, so it’s likely to stay on the Amber List for a bit longer.

Green list of countries that could turn orange

For the majority of Green List destinations, the number of coronavirus cases continues to be low and vaccine deployments high, so significant changes to the Green List are unlikely.

However, that being said, there are some countries like Bulgaria and Croatia where there are slight increases in the number of Covid cases. These are still very low, so they are unlikely to be moved to amber, but if the rising numbers continue they could be in danger.

Israel and Singapore are also currently seeing an increasing number of cases – the former is already on the green watch list, so it could turn orange, while Singapore could potentially be moved to the green watch list or orange categories.

The current destinations on the green list are: Australia, Brunei, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Iceland, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

There is also a Green Watch List, where Green List rules apply, but destinations are at a higher risk of being moved to the color orange.

The green destinations on the watch list are : Anguilla, Antarctica / British Antarctic Territory, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Dominica, Grenada, Israel and Jerusalem, Madeira, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Island, Taiwan and Turks and Caicos.

It should be noted that countries have their own restrictions for UK travelers – so just because the UK government says you can go, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily open to Brits.

Always check the latest advice from the Foreign Office before planning, booking, or going on a trip. This also includes the destinations’ own requirements for UK travelers, as well as general travel advice unrelated to Covid.

Which country do you hope to be on the green list? Let us know in the comments below.

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