Students from Hugh Baird College have formed a volunteer group to help clean up the streets around the College's Bootle campus

Portugal moved to amber list to guard public health against Variants of Concern following first traffic light review

THE latest update to the Department for Transport (DfT) traffic light list for international travel has taken place, on Thursday, 3 June 2021. The latest update will be reviewed again, every 3 weeks. The latest changes to the lists will come into effect, at 4am, on Tuesday, 8 June 2021.

The decision to move Portugal, along with:- Madeira and the Azores, to the Amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of Coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta Variant (Also known as India variant and as the B.1.617.2 variant), and the risk that is posed of bringing these back to the UK if people are not required to quarantine.

Portugal has been removed from the green list, just weeks after it was added and is now on the Amber list, in efforts to protect our vaccine rollout. The situation in Portugal has required swift action to protect the gains made with the vaccine rollout, there has been an almost doubling in the Covid19 test positivity rate in Portugal since the 1st review for traffic light allocations, far exceeding the ONS estimated national positivity rate in the UK. More significantly, according to data published on GISAID, 68 cases of the Delta Variant of Concern have been identified in Portugal, including cases of the Delta variant, with an additional, potentially detrimental, mutation.

The DfT and Public Health England have also moved both the Madeira and the Azores to the Amber list, in order to safeguard public health against variants of concern. Also, they have added a total of 8 countries:- Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago, to the Red list.

Public Health England are investigating this variant and mutation, to better understand whether it could be more transmissible and less effectively tackled by vaccines potentially putting our progress with the roadmap at risk.

The Government's priority is to protect public health, and has therefore decided to act quickly to make this change. All classification changes have been decided by Ministers, informed by the latest data and analysis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and wider public health factors, to help people understand the risks to public health here from travellers returning from different destinations.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:- "The public has always known travel will be different this year and we must continue to take a cautious approach to reopening international travel in a way that protects public health and the vaccine rollout. While we are making great progress in the UK with the vaccine rollout, we continue to say that the public should not travel to destinations outside the green list."

We are also told that within the 1st 3 weekly review of the Government's traffic light list for travel has seen no new countries added to green list, despite hopes that Malta could be added. While the number of 'green list' destinations remains low, the Government is still urging the public not to travel to Amber classified destinations to play their role in protecting public health. This is due to the prevalence of variants of concern and general rates of Coronavirus being greater in amber destinations, meaning the risk to public health is also greater.

UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said:- "Increases in case rates in the UK serve as a reminder that this pandemic is not over yet and we need to take a cautious approach. Everyone should observe the travel guidance, continue to follow hands, face, space and fresh air, and have both doses of the Covid19 vaccine when offered. Testing will help to break chains of transmission and allow us to see which variants are circulating so make sure you get tested when you return to the UK in line with the guidance."

People returning to the UK require proof of a negative test, taken within three days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs. Those returning from amber countries must also book and pay for day 2 and day 8 Covid19 travel tests for when they return to the UK; only the day 2 test is required for those returning from green countries.

The Government has always stated that international travel will be different this year, both in terms of passenger experience and with regards to what countries the public could visit to protect the hard fought gains of the vaccine programme rollout. However, passengers should be aware that whilst Covid travel restrictions are in place, queue waiting times may be longer than usual.

The Government is also announcing that as part of a limited trial, from 8 June 2021, direct flights will be permitted to England from countries on the:- 'Red List' that were previously subject to flight bans, so long as they arrive at dedicated terminals, at both Heathrow and Birmingham airports.

The requirement for these direct flights to arrive at dedicated facilities will help keep more red list passengers separate from other arrivals, helping to ensure they are processed as safely and efficiently as possible and then travel straight to their managed quarantine Hotel and reduce queues at the border.

As international travel reopens safely, the Government will maintain 100% health checks at the border. Our top priority is protecting the health of the public and our enhanced borders regime, including mandatory Hotel quarantine for arrivals from:- 'Red List' countries, is helping minimise the risk of new variants being imported into the UK.

However, many:- 'Green List' countries will continue to place restrictions on travellers from the UK, including quarantine measures, so passengers are strongly encouraged to check all entry requirements and FCDO travel advice before they book any foreign travel.

If travelling abroad, you need to take steps to keep safe and prepare in case things change while you are there. Check and subscribe to FCDO travel advice updates to understand the latest entry requirements and COVID 19 rules.
 

Red List Amber List Green List Angola Afghanistan Argentina Bangladesh Bahrain Bolivia Botswana Burundi Brazil Cape Verde Chile Colombia Costa Rica Democratic Republic of Congo Ecuador Egypt Ethiopia Eswatini French Guiana Guyana India Kenya Lesotho Malawi Maldives Mozambique Namibia Nepal Oman Pakistan Philippines Panama Paraguay Peru Qatar Rwanda Seychelles Sri Lanka South Africa Somalia Sudan Suriname Tanzania Trinidad & Tobago Turkey UAE Uruguay Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe Afghanistan Akrotiri and Dhekelia Albania Algeria Andorra Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Armenia Aruba Austria Azerbaijan The Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bonaire Sint Eustatius Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad China Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic (Czechia) Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon The Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece (including islands) Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malaysia Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Myanmar (Burma) Nauru Netherlands New Caledonia Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway The Occupied Palestinian Territories Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Henderson Ducie and Oeno Islands Poland Portugal Réunion Romania Russia Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain (including the Balearics and Canary Islands) Sri Lanka St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Martin and St Barthélemy St Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United States (USA) Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vietnam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Israel Singapore Australia New Zealand Brunei Iceland Gibraltar Falkland Islands Faroe Islands South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands St Helena Tristan de Cunha Ascension Island The Amber list is not exhaustive. If a country or territory is not on this list, you should not assume that it is a Green or Red list country or territory. ALL lists are subject to change at short notice and you should always check. also Green lists might change at short notice as well.

People travelling to the UK from red list countries will have to quarantine in a specialist Hotel on arrival, for the mandatory 10 day stay. Tese Hotels will cost travellers ₤1,750 each. Should any passengers leave the quarantine Hotel before their 10 days are up, they will be handed a ₤5,000 Coronavirus fine, but this figure can increase up to ₤10,000. It is also worth adding that travellers coming into England from the red list countries have to book a stay at a quarantine Hotel through an online booking platform. The ₤1,750 for the 10 day stay, includes the cost of the Hotel, transport from the airport and testing.

What are your thoughts on this? Please email us at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.
 

MFRS to help deliver afternoon tea to 250 unpaid carers to thank them for 'teariffic' Pandemic efforts

AROUND 250 domiciliary carers across Merseyside will be treated to afternoon tea next week as part of a 'thank you' from local organisations for their efforts during the Pandemic. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) has teamed up with LFC, Age UK Wirral, all five Merseyside local authorities and a number of other organisations to recognise the commitment and sacrifice made by unpaid domiciliary carers as part of their:- 'Care for the Carers' campaign. The afternoon teas will be prepared by LFC before being delivered by volunteers and MFRS fire crews to carers within:- Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral on the afternoon of Wednesday, 9 June 2021. The project, which coincides with National Carers Week, follows a similar initiative in December which saw MFRS crews and volunteers deliver traditional Christmas day lunch to around 100 older people in Wirral.

Nick McCormack, Station Manager, at MFRS, who will be 1 of over 60 volunteers delivering afternoon teas on the day, said:- "We know that the last 15 months has been extremely difficult for everyone; we have all had to make sacrifices in order to keep those around us safe. Unfortunately there are many members of our community who simply cannot look after themselves and so rely on carers to help them on a daily basis. Many of these people are unpaid carers and are often family members; sometimes children; of those who are in need of support. The commitment and bravery of these people is remarkable and whilst we know that the afternoon tea is in no way comparable to the efforts they have shown throughout the Pandemic, we hope it will bring a little cheer to their day and offer them a little respite."

The project would not be possible without the support of LFC, whose community team Red Neighbours will be preparing the afternoon teas, and Age UK Wirral who have worked with counterparts in other Merseyside districts to identify those in receipt of delivery.

Forbes Duff, Senior Manager, Red Neighbours, said:- "There are so many extraordinary carers in our local communities looking after friends and family members, many of whom do so without respite or financial support. Their selflessness and commitment is amazing and it makes such a big difference to the people they support. We want to thank them for all that they do with a small act of kindness, which we hope will acknowledge their dedication and the important work they do, and put a smile on their faces."

Jenny Paton, DCEO Age UK Wirral, said:- "We are delighted to be working with MFRS and LFC to ensure that our carers know we appreciate how hard the last year has been. The afternoon teas will be a real treat for their unpaid carers who spend all their time looking after their loved one and putting their needs 1st. It gives us the opportunity to show how much we appreciate and care about them, and lets them know they can come to us for support of they need it."

MFRS' Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Fire Officer and Assistant Fire Officer will also have a key part to play on the day, with each of them set to deliver afternoon tea to carers in Sefton. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service fits smoke alarms free of charge to those over 65 or meeting certain criteria. If you or someone you know would benefit from a Home Fire Safety Check, please call us on:- 08007315958 (Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm) or visit:- MerseyFire.Gov.UK.
 

Dedicated Testing for Delta Covid Variant in Sefton to end on Friday