Grant Shapps holding 5pm press briefing to unveil UK’s holiday plans

Grant Shapps is holding a press briefing on Friday evening where he will reveal the green list destinations for holidays this summer.

The Transport Secretary is expected to set out which countries Brits can travel to without having to quarantine on their return from May 17.

The plans are set to be signed off at a government ‘Covid-O’ committee meeting on Friday morning where countries will be ranked either green, amber or red under a new traffic light system.

It will classify destinations based on measures including the proportion of a country’s population that has been vaccinated, rates of infection and emerging new variants.

Green zones will mean quarantine-free travel for Brits, but tests before and after entry in to the UK.

Travellers from amber list countries will have to quarantine at home for 10 days on arrival and take three tests – one before arrival and two after.

Entry from red list countries will be outlawed still, with anyone coming through those countries forced to pay £1,750 to quarantine at a government-approved hotel.

Only a handful of European countries are expected to make the first round of the green list, including Malta, Gibraltar, Iceland and Finland.

Summer favourite Portugal is also poised to be placed on England’s approved list by ministers.

Other popular destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Greece are expected to be on the amber list to begin with, but could be upgraded later.

The status of countries could be changed when the system is reviewed on June 28.

Destinations are likely to require holidaymakers to show evidence they have received a coronavirus vaccine or taken a recent negative test.

Mr Shapps confirmed that people in England will be able to display their status using the NHS app, but there are doubts over whether it will be ready for May 17.

Every passenger arriving in the UK will be required to take a test, with the result entered into a passenger locator form.

Passengers who refuse or fail to complete the digital paperwork will be barred from getting on the plane, train or ferry and face a hefty fine.