Azores government satisfied with its inclusion in the UK’s ‘Green List’ – Observer

The Azores government on Friday welcomed the archipelago’s inclusion in the UK’s “Green List” for international travel, seeing it as “a recognition of the evolution of the fight against Covid-19 in the archipelago”.

“The Azores government is reacting with satisfaction to the UK’s decision to include the region on the ‘green’ list for international travel, acknowledging the evolution of the fight against Covid-19 in the archipelago, at a time when more than 70% of the Azores population is fully vaccinated against the disease,” it reads. Note sent to newsrooms.

The British decision was “communicated by letter to the Prime Minister.” [Regional]Jose Manuel Bolero, UK Ambassador to Portugal, Christopher Sinti, also referred to in the same version.

The Azorean executive, from the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM alliance, also confirms that “from Monday, it will not be necessary for anyone traveling from the Azores to the UK to undertake any post-arrival isolation,” Which represents an “added value for tourist flows and for various economic sectors” in the region.

The Azure government notes that the region has been recognized as “European Safest Destination 2021” (European Safest Destination 2021), offering, “in an increasingly visible way, excellent conditions for tourism” and “an outstanding performance in the fight against the pandemic”. , positioning himself, with great expectations, to receive, in safety, the visit of all those who seek an unforgettable experience.”

The Azores will move to the UK’s “Green List” from Monday

Britain’s Department for Transport announced on Thursday that the Azores, along with other regions and countries, will move to the “green list” for travel from Monday, without the need for post-arrival isolation.

According to the list update, which takes place every three weeks, the British government is only requiring travelers from the Azores to submit a test for Covid-19 before departure and another in the UK, but it is no longer necessary to comply. isolation period.

The Azores will thus join the Autonomous Region of Madeira from 4:00 a.m. Monday, which was added to the “green list” at the end of June.

Mainland Portugal remains on the “yellow list”.

Travelers arriving in the UK from a “yellow list” country and fully vaccinated against Covid-19 must undergo two screening tests, one before travel and one on arrival, and are exempt from quarantine.

Unvaccinated travelers or travelers with incomplete vaccinations must undergo two PCR tests within the first eight days of arrival and complete the 10-day isolation period.

From Monday, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania and Switzerland will also be included in the “green list”.

By contrast, Thailand and Montenegro are now on the red list, which means that in addition to having to test negative upon arrival three days earlier, they also have to remain in mandatory isolation in accommodation chosen by the British government, which costs 2,660 euros.

Covid-19 has caused at least 4,472,486 deaths worldwide, among the more than 214.5 million new coronavirus infections recorded since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest report from Agence France-Presse.

In Portugal, since March 2020, 17,703 people have died and 1030,791 confirmed cases of infection have been recorded, according to data from the Directorate General of Health.

The respiratory disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which was discovered in late 2019 in Wuhan, a city in central China, and currently with variants identified in countries such as the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, Brazil or Peru.