“Countries have been classified as green, amber and red depending on their risk assessment, informed by factors including the prevalence of coronavirus within the country, our confidence in the reliability of their data, and crucially the trajectory of the disease in the country,” a government statement read. “Low risk countries in the green and amber categories will be exempt from public health measures at the border.”
A full list of the low risk countries will be published next week and travel to those destinations will be able to resume the following week.
“Our new risk-assessment system will enable us to carefully open a number of safe travel routes around the world -- giving people the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad and boosting the UK economy through tourism and business,” a government spokesperson said.
“But we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if any risks re-emerge, and this system will enable us to take swift action to re-introduce self-isolation measures if new outbreaks occur overseas,” the spokesperson added.
The UK decided to slam its border shut as it emerged from one of the continent's worst coronavirus outbreaks in early June. Critics said the 14-day quarantine would torpedo the last shreds of hope for its travel industry.