The first update to the government’s traffic light list for international travel has taken place today (Thursday 3 June 2021), with Portugal moved to the amber list to safeguard public health against variants of concern and protect our vaccine rollout.

Seven countries – including Sri Lanka and Egypt – have also been added to the red list. All changes to the lists will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday 8 June.

The decision to move Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) to the amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta variant, and the risk that is posed of bringing these back to the UK if people are not required to quarantine.

The situation in Portugal has required swift action to protect the gains made with the vaccine rollout – there has been an almost doubling in the COVID-19 test positivity rate in Portugal since the first review for traffic light allocations, far exceeding the ONS estimated national positivity rate in the UK. More significantly, according to data published on GISAID, 68 cases of the Delta variant of concern have been identified in Portugal, including cases of the Delta variant with an additional, potentially detrimental, mutation.

Public Health England is investigating this variant and mutation, to better understand whether it could be more transmissible and less effectively tackled by vaccines, potentially putting our progress with the roadmap at risk.

The government’s priority is to protect public health, and it has therefore decided to act quickly to make this change. All classification changes have been decided by ministers, informed by the latest data and analysis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and wider public health factors, to help people understand the risks to public health here from travellers returning from different destinations.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The public has always known travel will be different this year and we must continue to take a cautious approach to reopening international travel in a way that protects public health and the vaccine rollout.

While we are making great progress in the UK with the vaccine rollout, we continue to say that the public should not travel to destinations outside the green list.

The full list of additional countries added to the ‘red list’ includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago. For countries going on the red list today, COVID-19 prevalence is assessed to be high and there is evidence to suggest community transmission of variants of concern.

While the number of ‘green list’ destinations remains low, the government is urging the public not to travel to amber classified destinations to play their role in protecting public health. This is due to the prevalence of variants of concern and general rates of coronavirus being greater in amber destinations, meaning the risk to public health is also greater.

UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said:

Increases in case rates in the UK serve as a reminder that this pandemic is not over yet and we need to take a cautious approach. Everyone should observe the travel guidance, continue to follow hands, face, space and fresh air, and have both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine when offered. Testing will help to break chains of transmission and allow us to see which variants are circulating so make sure you get tested when you return to the UK in line with the guidance.

People returning to the UK require proof of a negative test, taken within 3 days before the service on which they will arrive in England departs. Those returning from amber countries must also book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 travel tests for when they return to the UK; only the day 2 test is required for those returning from green countries.

The government has always stated that international travel will be different this year, both in terms of passenger experience and with regards to what countries the public could visit to protect the hard-fought gains of the vaccine programme rollout. However, passengers should be aware that while COVID-19 travel restrictions are in place, queue waiting times may be longer than usual.

The government is also announcing that as part of a limited trial, from 8 June, direct flights will be permitted to England from countries on the ‘red list’ that were previously subject to flight bans, so long as they arrive at dedicated terminals at Heathrow and Birmingham airports.

The requirement for these direct flights to arrive at dedicated facilities will help keep more red list passengers separate from others, helping to ensure they are processed as safely and efficiently as possible and then travel straight to their managed quarantine hotel and reduce queues at the border.

As international travel reopens safely, the government will maintain 100% health checks at the border. Our top priority is protecting the health of the public and our enhanced borders regime, including mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from red list countries, is helping minimise the risk of new variants being imported into the UK.

However, many ‘green list’ countries will continue to place restrictions on travelers from the UK, including quarantine measures, so passengers are strongly encouraged to check all entry requirements and FCDO travel advice before they book any foreign travel.

If travelling abroad, you need to take steps to keep safe and prepare in case things change while you are there. Check and subscribe to FCDO travel advice updates to understand the latest entry requirements and COVID-19 rules.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Ghana’s Minister for National Security Albert Kan-Dapaah met for talks in Accra during her two day visit to Ghana. At the inaugural security dialogue, they reaffirmed both nations commitment to tackling important shared challenges through deepening the law enforcement partnerships in both countries, particularly around community policing and accountability.

Interior Minister Ambrose Dery and Attorney General Godfred Dame also joined the discussion, where all agreed on the importance of giving young people in Ghana the freedom to succeed and not fall into a life of crime or be groomed by terrorist groups, and the Home Secretary committed to further UK investment in Ghana to support this.

Both nations also committed to establishing two working groups to co-ordinate activity on local security such as violent extremism, and organised crime, including immigration crime, money laundering, gold and cocaine smuggling, and online fraud.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel said:

The UK and Ghana have a strong and established relationship that goes back many years and this is not just a partnership, but a friendship. We must continue to work closely together to tackle the organised criminal networks that operate across borders. Our new security dialogue will ensure we work closer together to crack down on these abhorrent gangs, making the UK and Ghana safer.

At the security dialogue, the Home Secretary also recognised the achievements of long-standing security cooperation that has led to Ghana making progress to be delisted from the International Financial Action Task Force’s money laundering ‘grey-list’.

National Security Minister, Kan-Dapaah said:

The UK and Ghana have strong and historical bonds, and I welcome the new Security Dialogue between our two nations to deepen that collaboration. This new approach will allow us to work together the tackle the threat of terrorism and organised crime across the region, and ensure global peace security.

The Home Secretary also met with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House to deepen the strong and established relationship that goes back many years.

Whilst in Accra, the Home Secretary officially opened the Home Office funded Ghana Immigration Taskforce Office. The new office will house a dedicated team of investigators working to tackle organised immigration crime in Ghana as well as combating document fraud and ensuring that the perpetrators of immigration crime are brought to justice.

During the visit the Home Secretary also saw first-hand the successes of the joint work between UK and Ghanaian law enforcement in improving airport security at a demonstration at Kotoka International Airport.

The multi-agency ‘live’ operation saw officers from the Narcotics Control Commission and Ghana Immigration Service partnering with UK Border Force, the National Crime Agency, and Immigration Enforcement to demonstrate a range of tactics such as the use of dogs, body scanners, and interdiction techniques.

• More than 75% of people in the UK now vaccinated with a single dose
• Public urged to come forward for second doses to help protect against the threat of new variants

More than half of all adults in the UK have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the latest figures published today (Thursday 3 June) show, as the vaccination programme continues at unprecedented pace and scale.

Health services across the UK have now administered a total of 66,180,731 vaccines between 8 December and 2 June, including 39,758,428 people with first doses (75.5%) and 26,422,303 people with both doses (50.2%), ensuring they have the strongest possible protection against COVID-19 from a second dose.

A recent study by Public Health England (PHE) shows that 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant first identified in India. Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant is similar after 2 doses compared to the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant dominant in the UK, and we expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death.

The government met its target of offering a vaccine to the most vulnerable by 15 April and remains on track to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July. NHS England has extended the offer of a vaccine to everyone over the age of 30.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

Shortly after vaccinating three-quarters of adults with a first dose, I’m thrilled that we have now vaccinated over half of adults with the life-saving second dose.

We know how important the second dose is to give protection, particularly against the Delta variant. That’s why we’ve brought forward appointments from 12 to 8 weeks for the most vulnerable people.

I encourage everyone who is eligible to join the millions who have the fullest possible protection from this virus. Let’s roll up our sleeves and put this pandemic behind us, once and for all.

Last week, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine was authorised for use in the UK. It is expected to be available for use later this year. The single-dose vaccine was shown to be 67% effective overall in preventing COVID-19 infection and 85% effective in preventing severe disease or hospitalisation.

To ensure people have the strongest possible protection against COVID-19, appointments for second doses have been brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks for the remaining people in the top 9 priority groups who have yet to receive both doses.

The move follows updated advice from the independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has considered the latest available evidence and has recommended reducing the dosing interval to counter the threat of new variants of concern.

The government and its scientific experts are monitoring the evolving situation and rates of variants closely, and will not hesitate to take additional action as necessary.

Vaccines Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said:

Over half of UK adults have now been fully vaccinated and have maximum protection against this awful virus, which is heart-warming news.

Everyone who has received their second dose can breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that they have ultimate protection from the virus and the new variants.

We have come an incredibly long way in just under 6 months with our vaccination programme. But our work is not done yet. If you’ve had one dose, please come back for your second jab when you get the offer.

Vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 with symptoms. Vaccinated people are even more unlikely to get serious COVID-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it and there is growing evidence that vaccinated people are less likely to pass the virus to others.

Data from PHE’s real-world study shows the vaccines are already having a significant impact in the UK, reducing hospitalisations and deaths, saving more than 13,200 lives and preventing 39,700 hospitalisations in England.

PHE analysis also shows that individuals who receive a single dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine have approximately 80% lower risk of death against the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) coronavirus variant originating in Kent and a second dose of the vaccine can provide 85 to 90% protection against symptomatic disease. Protection against death from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine rises from approximately 80% after one dose to 97% after 2 doses against the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant.

Data published by YouGov shows the UK continues to top the list of nations where people are willing to have a COVID-19 vaccine or have already been vaccinated.

ONS data published on 6 May found that more than 9 in 10 (93%) adults reported positive sentiment towards the vaccine.

Approved vaccines are available from thousands of NHS vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies. Around 98% of people live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre in England and vaccinations are taking place at sites including mosques, community centres and football stadiums.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock delivered a speech in Oxford on 2 June praising the ‘vaccine heroes’ and reflecting on the lessons learned from the vaccination programme.

See the latest UK-wide vaccination statistics and NHS England vaccine statistics for England.

See PHE’s real-world data on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and its latest study on household transmission.

ONS survey on ‘Barriers to COVID-19 vaccination’.

YouGov data comparing uptake rates in countries around the world.

To date, the government has invested over £300 million into manufacturing a successful vaccine to enable a rapid roll out.

The UK government is committed to supporting equitable access to vaccines worldwide. The UK is one of the largest donors to the COVAX facility, the global mechanism to help developing countries access a coronavirus vaccine, and has committed £548 million in UK aid to help distribute 1.3 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines to 92 developing countries this year.