Italy and Poland could be removed from the quarantine-free travel list

Italy and Poland could be taken off the Government’s quarantine-exemption list following an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The seven-day rate of new cases per 100,000 people in Italy is now at 20.4, up from 18.4 in the previous week.

Poland also reported 25.9 new cases per 100,000 people, increasing from 15.6 in the week prior.

A seven-day rate of 20 new cases is the threshold above which the UK Government considers triggering quarantine conditions.

Should the countries be removed from the exemption list, travellers will have to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the UK.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman would not comment on whether either country would be taken off the safe travel corridor list.

It comes as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last Thursday said passengers returning from Denmark, Iceland, Slovakia and the Caribbean island of Curacao would have to self-isolate on their return.

At the time, Denmark was recording a seven-day rate of 65.2 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, up from 33.8 a week earlier.

Iceland and Slovakia had rates of 80.4 and 25.9 respectively, while Curacao was on 66.7.

Figures have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.