Portugal fails to make UK's list of safe countries

Portugal remains off the UK's list of quarantine-free travel, despite diplomatic negotiations that government officials claimed were proceeding well. The country has been off the list since July 6, but it was expected that the situation could change by now. The decision is based on the number of infections by the new coronavirus per 100,000 inhabitants.

Portugal had hoped to be added to the 59 countries UK travelers can now visit without restrictions, together with newcomers Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. British tourists make up nearly 50 percent of all passengers that go through Faro airport. The UK government has also advised against all buy essential travel to mainland Spain and has ordered those returning from the country to self-isolate for 14 days upon return.