COVID-19: ‘Use Common Sense’ When Traveling to Amber List Countries, Says Shapps | UK News

The British should “use common sense” about whether or not they choose to fly to Orange List countries, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Since the ban on holidays abroad was lifted on Monday as part of the easing COVID-19[female[feminine restrictions, people were able to enjoy trips without quarantine to a dozen destinations on the government’s green list.

But there has been confusion over which countries are on the Amber List, which destinations require a period of home isolation after return.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that “you should not go on vacation to an Orange List country,” saying travel to those countries should only be done for circumstances such as visiting a sick relative or attending at a funeral.

However, there is no travel ban in Orange List countries – just government advice against it.

Asked about the confusion over this, Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News the matter was personal responsibility.

“We have moved away from a situation where everything is ‘it’s forbidden it’s illegal’, I know we got used to it very much last year …

“We are moving away from that and asking people to apply a little common sense.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night defended the government’s measures to open up international travel via a traffic light system at Wednesday’s press conference in Downing Street.

He said that the messaging had been “crystal clear” that the public “must not go on vacation to a country on the orange or red list” and that any visit can only take place in “exceptional circumstances”.

Travelers arriving from Amber List countries are required to self-isolate for 10 days and pass two tests, Mr Hancock adding that 30,000 home visits were made last week to verify people were in quarantine.

Reinforcing what he said he described at a press conference in Downing Street two weeks ago, Mr Shapps said his post had …