Three planes full of Chelsea fans returning from Champions League final in Portugal told to self-isolate
Holidaymakers face a series of blows today – with fears Portugal could be axed from the UK’s ‘green list’ as hundreds of Chelsea fans were ordered to self-isolate after returning from the country’s Champions League final match.
And in another hit to Britons’ summer holiday plans the EU has refused to put the UK on its ‘white list’ for non-essential travel.
Ministers are finalising changes to the travel categories due to be announced this afternoon, with the hopes of millions of Britons hanging on the decisions.
There is speculation that Portugal – the only major destination on the list – could fall victim to the overhaul, after cases saw a worrying rise.
There are fears football supporters are behind the increase after hundreds of Chelsea fans returning from the Champions League final in Porto were ordered to self-isolate.
Fans who were on the flights organised by the club shared details of messages from the NHS Track and Trace app which contacts people who have been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19.
‘Anyone else been captured by NHS track and trace since getting back from Porto?’ one supporter posted on Facebook. ‘Despite two vaccinations, a negative test and no symptoms I’ve got to self-isolate for 10 days …Deep Joy!’
Chelsea fans were offered a £199 travel package through the club on top of the cost of the match ticket, although some of their 6,000 supporters chose to travel to the country independently.
Manchester City supporters attending the same match and football fans celebrating Sporting Lisbon’s title win were also identified as potential causes, however the club said none of their fans on charter flights tested positive.
Fans have shared their surprise at news of the positive cases as they all had to four different tests throughout the trip.
Portugal’s government has kept bars and night clubs closed and still recommend people working from home but are now wary the increase could mean they lose their place on the UK’s ‘green list’.
Ahead of the announcement on the updated list later today it is believed places such as Malta, Jamaica and Grenada could be added to the roster.
Boris Johnson also hinted yesterday that more countries could be added to the ‘red list’ that means travellers must go into quarantine hotels.
Meanwhile, Labour has renewed demands for the ‘amber list’ to be scrapped to prevent mutant strains from being imported.
And in another setback for travellers the EU has again delayed a decision on whether the UK will be added to its ‘white list’ of safe countries from which leisure travel is welcome.
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