Coordinated Covid Restriction May Hamper European Travel Plans

133

The Covid-19 pandemic has redefined the world of travel. Its far-reaching consequences continue to be starkly felt across the world in 2021. British tourists are facing the threat of quarantine for popular European destinations, even as Boris Johnson holds out the hope of easier travel this summer for those with two jabs.

Plan to Step-Up Coordination

EU leaders agreed to step up coordination of travel restrictions, after German chancellor Angela Merkel warned them at a Brussels summit on Thursday that the continent was “on thin ice” in its battle to keep out the Delta variant of Covid-19. The agreement came as the UK government added Malta, Madeira, Majorca and Ibiza to its “green list” of areas that can be visited without the need for quarantine on return.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said it was hoped to allow Britons who had received both vaccinations to skip quarantine and reduce testing on arrival from amber list countries – which includes most of Europe. But Mr Shapps said no decision would be taken until next month and the change would be implemented “later in the summer”, in a strong indication that the relaxation will come later than the expected removal of other Covid restrictions on 19 July. However, the CBI warned that the limited opening-up “won’t be enough to salvage the summer season for the international travel sector”.

Measures against the Delta Strain

With the EU mulling a blanket two-week quarantine for UK travellers, France and Portugal indicated that they are ready to consider tightening restrictions, declaring their support for Ms. Merkel’s call for closer coordination.

President Emmanuel Macron said it was necessary for all of Europe to be “vigilant” against the mutation, which makes up the majority of cases in the UK but has so far established only a relatively limited presence on the continent. Vigilance is the key to avoiding another major outbreak of the virus. As it is already known that the Delta strain of the covid virus is more notorious than any other mutation of the strain. A Delta wave would be detrimental to all the travel plans and arrangements that governments have been working on.