Portugal jabs u-turn means family holidays are back on: Tourist hotspot DROPS quarantine policy for children in major boost for summer trips
Portugal last night U-turned over its quarantine policy for children, putting family summer holidays there back on the cards.
On Monday, the country had put the UK on a list of nations whose citizens would have to quarantine on arrival unless they were double-jabbed.
Because the policy initially applied to children aged 12 and over, hopes of holidays for British families were killed off because the UK is not vaccinating under-18s.
It meant families where the parents are fully vaccinated but have children aged between 12 and 17 would not have been able to go there because the children would be subject to quarantine.
But last night Portugal announced under-18s would be exempt if travelling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian.
Children aged 12 and over will instead have to show proof of a negative test. Under-12s won’t even have to show proof of a negative test and are completely exempt.
Portugal has U-turned on the decision over whether to insist children aged 12 and over are double-vaccinated before they are permitted to enter. Pictured: Santo Amaro beach, Lisbon
The country came under pressure from its own tourism industry to continue allowing British families in after neighbouring Spain and Greece said they would still welcome unvaccinated Britons with proof of a negative test, making them more attractive for families.
The Portuguese rules do not apply to Madeira, which will not require holidaying Britons to be fully vaccinated.
Madeira today goes on the UK quarantine-free travel green list having been on amber, but mainland Portugal will remain amber.
Portugal’s rules on tourists having to be double-jabbed is still a blow to young British adults however, who are not due to receive their second dose until after the summer.
It comes amid fears about the Indian variant which is dominant in Britain. However, the EU and UK are closing in on a deal to accept each other’s vaccine passports in a further boost for quarantine-free travel.
Negotiators said they were nearing an agreement which would allow fully vaccinated Britons to use the NHS app as proof of vaccination status while visiting the Continent.
Pictured: Madeira today goes on the UK quarantine-free travel green list having been on amber
Under the plan, double-jabbed EU citizens would also be able to visit the UK with fewer restrictions.
Analysis by the Daily Mail suggests EU countries which have introduced tough travel restrictions are actually trailing the UK with their own vaccine rollout or are not vaccinating children themselves.
For example, the service in Portugal only allows those aged 33 and over to reserve a slot for their first jab.
And Germany, whose leader Angela Merkel has been pushing for the most draconian restrictions on British tourists, is also not yet vaccinating all children over the age of 12.