A government global travel taskforce headed up by Grant Shapps has revealed more details of a ‘traffic light system’ for travel abroad.

The system would see destinations designated a green, amber or red rating depending on the country’s Covid-19 situation.

It is thought that the rate of infection, the stability of said rate, and the effectiveness of vaccination programmes will decide which colour destinations are assigned.

Holidaymaking Britons will be hoping that their destination isn’t given the red light as it would require them to quarantine upon returning to the UK.

Here’s what you need to know about red rated countries.

Yes.

The initial findings of the global travel taskforce review published on Monday said it was too early to say whether holidays abroad could be permitted from May 17, with international holidays currently banned during the lockdown.

But they revealed details of the scheme on April 8.

The taskforce said that people arriving home from abroad would still be subject to rules such as home quarantine and strict testing, but these will be differently applied depending on the country visited:

Green destinations – Arrivals will have to take a pre-departure test and another PCR test on or before day two of their return to the UK. No quarantine or additional tests will be needed unless a positive result comes back.

Amber destinations – Arrivals must quarantine for 10 days, take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on day two and day eight after their return, with the option of a “test to release” on day five to end self-isolation early.

Red destinations – Travel to these countries will be restricted along the same lines as the Government’s current “red list”, meaning returning travellers must stay for 10 days in a quarantine hotel, as well as take a pre-departure test and a further PCR test on day two and day eight after returning.

The government has indicated that a new red list will roughly align with the current “red list”.

The list consists of countries which are being overrun with highly contagious and vaccine-resistant strains of Covid-19.

As of April 9 the following countries are featured on the red list:

Angola

Argentina

Bangladesh

Bolivia

Botswana

Brazil

Burundi

Cape Verde

Chile

Colombia

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ecuador

Eswatini

Ethiopia

French Guiana

Guyana

Kenya

Lesotho

Malawi

Mozambique

Namibia

Oman

Pakistan

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Qatar

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

South Africa

Suriname

Tanzania

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Uruguay

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe