Britain to announce 'green list' for travel: minister

Britain's International Trade Secretary Liz Truss attends BBC TV's The Andrew Marr Show in London, Britain, April 25, 2021. Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via REUTERS DOWNLOAD PICTURE

LONDON (Bywire News) - On Tuesday, British trade minister, Lizz Truss, said that Britain is set to announce a green list of countries that can travel to Britain for holidays, accompanied with the correct procedures to ensure safe travel.

The possibility of the British travelling to Europe increased on Monday after the European Union suggested lifting some restrictions to enable travel for people who are fully vaccinated or from a country with a  "good epidemiological situation".

Back in mid-April, the British government said that it would have a list of which countries are ready for restriction-free travel in early May, in time for their plans to restart holiday travel not earlier than May 17.

Truss said to Sky News, "I don't think it will be much longer before we make those announcements."

Some sources have hinted that the green list could be published on Friday, following Thursday's local elections.

She added, "People are looking to book a holiday but I would encourage people to wait until we make that announcement."

Heathrow, Britain's largest airport, has shared its worries that an increase in passenger numbers could result in overcrowding and long border control queues, as with the coronavirus come additional form checks.

The government has said it is hoping to speed up travel by introducing proof of COVID-19 vaccination in digital format.

Truss said that measures would be implemented to ensure safety when travel resumes.

"We need to make sure that we do have the set up correct at the airports, that we do have the mechanisms right before we go ahead," she said.

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Klaudia Fior, Editing by Paul Sandle)