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From SKY NEWS
COVID-19: No prospect of amber watchlist this week - as next travel update confirmed for Thursday
Government sources confirm Boris Johnson has rejected the idea of an amber travel watchlist after a backlash and fears it would cause more disruption for holidaymakers and the travel industry.
By Alan McGuinness and Sophie Morris, political reporters
Tuesday 3 August 2021 14:37, UK
COVID-19Coronavirus
Play Video - Minister on watch list 'speculation'
Minister on watchlist 'speculation'
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There is no prospect of an amber watchlist being introduced at the latest travel review this week, Sky News understands - as a minister confirmed the next update will be on Thursday.
Government sources have said Boris Johnson rejected the idea in the wake of a backlash over fears of more disruption for holidaymakers and the travel industry.
It comes after the prime minister said he wanted a "simple" and "user-friendly" system for travellers which can also help stop the importation of new variants of COVID-19.
Play Video - 'We have to have a balanced approach'
'We have to have a balanced approach'
"I understand how much people plan, prepare, for the summer holidays," Mr Johnson said earlier on Monday.
"But we have also got to remember this is still a dangerous virus and we must try and stop variants coming in, must stop importing variants from abroad, so we have to have a balanced approach.
"What I want to see is something that is as simple and as user-friendly for people as possible."
The PM said that because of the risk from new variants of the virus, there was a balance to be struck when it comes to travel.
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"We also have to recognise that people want, badly, to go on their summer holidays, we need to get the travel industry moving again, we need to get our city centres open again and so we want an approach that is as simple as we can possibly make it," he said.
Speaking on Sky News on Tuesday, education minister Gillian Keegan confirmed the review of changes to the traffic light system would take place on Thursday 5 August.
She also suggested the system would revert back to just red, amber and green, with the amber-plus list - which, at present, only includes France - being removed.