Holidays plunged into chaos by travel green list

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing June 04, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The travel industry was [dealt a hammer blow]( on Thursday as Portugal, the only mainstream holiday country on the green list, was downgraded to amber. Transport secretary Grant Shapps cited fears over “a mutation of the Delta variant”, the virus mutation wreaking havoc in India, for plunging Portugal into the amber category, joining most of Europe. The decision was made by the government in response to the country’s coronavirus positive test rate “almost doubling” and the discovery of 68 cases of the Delta variant, including some with a mutation previously seen in Nepal. Portugal’s removal, which will take effect from 4am on 8 June, was received with disbelief among a travel industry that only restarted legally and tentatively 17 days ago. The Delta variant may lead to [an increased risk of hospitalisation]( compared to the UK’s Alpha variant, Public Health England (PHE) has said. Delta is also now believed to be the dominant variant in the UK, having overtaken Alpha, PHE experts believe, and cases have risen by 5,472 since last week, to 12,431. “Early evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of hospitalisation for Delta (VOC-21APR-02) compared to Alpha (VOC-20DEC-02) although more data is needed for us to have more confidence in that finding,” the body said in its weekly variant case report on Thursday. Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said it was imperative the British public continued to be cautious as scientists learn more about the new variant. “With this variant now dominant across the UK, it remains vital that we continue to exercise caution particularly while we learn more about transmission and health impacts,” she said. Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested last month after his plane was forced to land in Minsk, has [confessed to plotting anti-government protests]( in a tearful TV interview that his family say was conducted under duress. In his third public appearance 10 days after he was arrested, Mr Protasevich recanted his previous criticism of president Alexander Lukashenko and praised him. He said he changed his views about the veteran leader as he “began to understand that he was doing the right thing and I certainly respect him”. The family of the 26-year-old journalist, activists and opposition groups say the interview was conducted under duress and called it an act of “propaganda”. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [‘They’ve built a cage around us’: Fences go up near St Ives homes ahead of G7 summit]( [White House defends Fauci as top doctor’s private emails revealed]( [Nurse who claimed Covid symptoms were caused by 5G is struck off]( . . Stories chosen for you - [Green list for travel could be reviewed today – follow live]( - [Watching Tim Martin squirm almost makes Brexit worth it | Mark Steel]( - [Green list live: government travel review expected today]( - [Opinion: We still don’t know what or who Brexit is actually for]( - [EU leaders drawing up ‘code of conduct’ for dealing with Brexit Britain]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.