Covid plan for England: trips abroad could be permitted from May

Traffic light system rating countries, watch list and new quarantine rules raise hopes of international travel from 17 May

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Hopes are rising for foreign holidays to be permitted from May, with the public given a watchlist" of countries whose quarantine status is at risk of changing to help with planning and to avoid the chaos of last summer.

Under proposals that could come into force from 17 May, countries will be placed in a traffic light system with green, amber and red lists that will set out whether, and where, travellers must isolate on returning to England, government officials confirmed.