From 4am on Wednesday September 22, eight countries were removed from the travel red-list, including holiday favourite Turkey. Other countries to come off the list included the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
A number of popular destinations remain on the red list, including South Africa and the Seychelles. Vast swathes of Africa remain red, as does the entirety of Latin America.
Those returning from the red list countries must still pay up to £2,285 to spend that time in a quarantine hotel. However, reports suggest those in financial hardship may be able to avoid the large fee. A Government statement confirmed: “Alternative payment arrangements remain available to those who genuinely cannot afford to pay.”
Since February 15, arrivals who try to cover up their arrival from a red list country also face jail sentences of up to 10 years, whilst anyone who tries to avoid mandatory hotel quarantine will face fines of up to £10,000.
A fine also enforces the testing system. Travellers arriving from any country could be fined £500 if they do not have a valid test result.
Brazil is on the list
Credit: Getty
The 54 hotel quarantine red list countries
- South Africa
- DR Congo
- Tanzania
- Zimbabwe
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Zambia
- Malawi
- Namibia
- Lesotho
- Mozambique
- Angola
- Rwanda
- Burundi
- Somalia
- Ethiopia
- Seychelles
- Panama
- Cape Verde
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- The Philippines
- Nepal
- Afghanistan
- Costa Rica
- Sudan
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Mexico
- Uganda
- Tunisia
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Dominican Republic
- Mongolia
- Cuba
- Indonesia
- Myanmar
- Sierra Leone
- Georgia
- Réunion
- Mayotte
- Thailand
- Montenegro