Politics

Portugal adds UK to travel red list

Lisbon, Jun 28 (EFE).- Portugal on Monday added the United Kingdom to its list of ‘red’ or high risk travel destinations amid a surge in coronavirus infections in both countries.

Travelers coming from the UK, except those who have been fully inoculated with EU-approved vaccines, will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in the Iberian country.

The move comes as Portugal has been registering a daily rate of 1,500 Covid-19 infections, with the highly contagious Delta variant that was first identified in India most prevalent.

In addition to the UK, Portugal’s red list includes South Africa, India, Nepal and Brazil.

London, along with Berlin, also has left Portugal off its travel green list, striking a blow to tourism, one of the main drivers of the Portuguese economy.

Infections have been spiking in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, and rates are also up in other areas of the country such as Algarve, its main tourist hotspot.

The increase in infections has led to the suspension of in-person classes in five towns: Albufeira, Faro, Loulé, Olhão and São Brás de Alportel.

Meanwhile, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will undergo a Covid-19 test on Monday after he met his Luxembourgian counterpart, Xavier Bettel, who has tested positive.

Although authorities explained that Costa did not have close contact with Bettel, the latter participated in the summit that brought together the main European leaders in Brussels last week.

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