New analysis reinforces that lateral flow tests are accurate and reliable and have extremely low false positive rates. New analysis of community testing data shows lateral flow tests to have a specificity of at least 99.9% This means fewer than one false positive in every 1,000 lateral flow tests carried out New analysis published today shows lateral flow tests (LFD) …

The European Commission has laid out proposals to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate “safe free movement” within the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Digital Green Certificate will act as proof a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result or recovered from having had the virus. It will record if a person has received a Covid-19 …

Customer confidence in travelling overseas this summer has returned strongly, according to Jet2 and Jet2holidays. The UK’s second largest travel and airline group predicted “sunnier skies” ahead as it marked a year since the government first advised against all non-essential travel overseas in response to the Covid crisis. Travel confidence has returned strongly over the past several weeks on the …

Travel to and within the European Union this summer could be opened up if Brussels agrees plans today (Wednesday) for Covid-19 vaccine certificates. The European Commission’s plan for a ‘digital green certificate’ will be a proof of vaccination, immunity and test results, preventing the need for quarantines or travel bans. Spain, Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries will be able …

UK cruise lines will be able to restart domestic sailings on May 17, maritime minister Robert Courts has told a group of MPs. The disclosure came as he appeared at a virtual meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group (APPMPG). The group tweeted: **NEWS** Maritime Minister @robertcourts announces the reopening of the domestic #cruise market in England …

Spain’s government has unfolded its plans to create a “green corridor” for all citizens of the United Kingdom who have been vaccinated against the Coronavirus if the European Union fails to reach an agreement on vaccination documents. Spain’s Tourism Minister Fernando Valdés has confirmed that the country is seeking to reach a mutual agreement with Britain in a bid to …

Spain will consider a “green corridor” for vaccinated British tourists if there is no EU agreement on vaccination passports, the country’s tourism minister has said, as the European commission prepared to table a proposal for leaders this month. Fernando Valdés said his government would seek to find agreement on a common system among the 27 member states to allow tourism to restart, …

TUI is ‘preparing intensively’ for holidays to resume, with the European giant in talks with the key destinations of Greece, Spain and Cyprus. Chief Executive Fritz Joussen predicted customers will be able to travel this summer, and declared there was ‘no doubt’ a vaccination passport would ‘restore freedom to travel’. “Travelling in Europe will be possible in summer 2021 – …

How to book a place in a quarantine hotel and arrange coronavirus (COVID-19) tests if you’re travelling to England from a country on the banned travel list. This guidance is for people arriving in England who have visited or passed through a country where travel to the UK is banned (sometimes called the ‘red list’) in the 10 days before their arrival. …

Passengers arriving from all international destinations will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before departing for England to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that from next week inbound passengers arriving by boat, plane or train will have to take a test up to than 72 hours before …

The Alicante provincial government has launched a half-a-million-euro funding package to help municipalities turn back the tide of global warming. Respect, care and protection of the environment is the message being prioritised by the Diputación and are calling on local councils to use the funding for investing in green areas around the municipalities. The Committee on the Environment and Energy …

Although the occasional rains of summer may have been a brief but welcome break to the continual hot and dry spells of previous years, the rain has brought an unpleasant legacy along with it. The extra rain through August has added water to the ground, feeding plants and animals, it has added to the dwindling supplies in the reservoirs, and …