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| Coronavirus: UK government's quarantine-free list 'absurd' | Coronavirus: UK government's quarantine-free list 'absurd' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Portugal's foreign affairs minister has said his country's exclusion from a list of countries for which quarantine will not apply for people returning to England is "absurd". | |
| Augusto Santos Silva told the BBC not including Portugal was "senseless and unfair". | |
| The list of countries exempt from quarantine was published on Friday. | The list of countries exempt from quarantine was published on Friday. |
| Boris Johnson said 14-day quarantines would remain for countries where the virus was not under control. | Boris Johnson said 14-day quarantines would remain for countries where the virus was not under control. |
| Other countries excluded from the list, which comes into effect on 10 July, include the US, China, the Maldives and Sweden. | Other countries excluded from the list, which comes into effect on 10 July, include the US, China, the Maldives and Sweden. |
| Mr Santos Silva told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "We are very disappointed with the decision of the British authorities. We think it is senseless and unfair. | Mr Santos Silva told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "We are very disappointed with the decision of the British authorities. We think it is senseless and unfair. |
| "It is quite absurd the UK has seven times more cases of Covid-19 than Portugal so we think this is not the way in which allies and friends are treated." | "It is quite absurd the UK has seven times more cases of Covid-19 than Portugal so we think this is not the way in which allies and friends are treated." |
| The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, tweeted comparing the UK's number of coronavirus cases with that of the Algarve, saying: "You are welcome to spend a safe holiday in the Algarve." | The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, tweeted comparing the UK's number of coronavirus cases with that of the Algarve, saying: "You are welcome to spend a safe holiday in the Algarve." |
| Labour shadow transport minister Jim McMahon said people up and down the country were keen for the quarantine measures to be lessened but said "this is a mess". | Labour shadow transport minister Jim McMahon said people up and down the country were keen for the quarantine measures to be lessened but said "this is a mess". |
| "First we had the quarantine that they were slow to implement, then they said they'd do air bridges," he said. | "First we had the quarantine that they were slow to implement, then they said they'd do air bridges," he said. |
| "Now we see a plan to let residents of 60 or more countries into England without any reciprocal arrangements." | "Now we see a plan to let residents of 60 or more countries into England without any reciprocal arrangements." |
| Scotland and Wales are yet to decide whether to ease travel restrictions and described the changes as "shambolic". | Scotland and Wales are yet to decide whether to ease travel restrictions and described the changes as "shambolic". |
| The quarantine rules will also remain in place in Northern Ireland for visitors arriving from outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland. | The quarantine rules will also remain in place in Northern Ireland for visitors arriving from outside of the UK and Republic of Ireland. |
| Some of those on the list include popular short-haul destinations such as Turkey and Cyprus, as well as long-haul locations including Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam. | Some of those on the list include popular short-haul destinations such as Turkey and Cyprus, as well as long-haul locations including Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam. |
| However, some countries will require visitors to isolate on arrival or will bar them from entering at all. | However, some countries will require visitors to isolate on arrival or will bar them from entering at all. |
| A list of countries which will be exempt from the Foreign Office's advice against "all but essential travel" from Saturday has also been published. | A list of countries which will be exempt from the Foreign Office's advice against "all but essential travel" from Saturday has also been published. |
| The Foreign Office is expected to update its travel guidance on Saturday, including naming which countries will have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK and not require British visitors to quarantine on arrival. | The Foreign Office is expected to update its travel guidance on Saturday, including naming which countries will have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK and not require British visitors to quarantine on arrival. |
| The introduction of the quarantine on 8 June was met with criticism from the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and the easing of restrictions on arrivals from some countries has been welcomed. | The introduction of the quarantine on 8 June was met with criticism from the travel, tourism and hospitality industries and the easing of restrictions on arrivals from some countries has been welcomed. |