The Dutch government has further updated its travel advice for the EU, with five popular holiday destinations changing from orange (high risk, only necessary travel) to yellow (limited measures against coronavirus), and Malta becoming the first European country to go green (no known risks).

Five EU destinations go yellow, four go green

As more and more adults across the continent receive the jab and the number of coronavirus infections falls, the Dutch government continues to update its advice for international travel this summer. Earlier this week, seven EU countries including Germany and Italy went from orange to yellow, and now another five holiday destinations have followed in their footsteps. 

From Thursday, the following destinations will be classified as yellow: 

• Cyprus 
• The South Aegean Islands (e.g. Rhodes, Santorini, Kos, Mykonos)
• Lichtenstein
• Switzerland
• Croatia (excl. Sjeverna Hrvatska)

With the highest vaccination rate in the EU / EEA, it’s unsurprising that, this week, Malta became the first country in Europe to be classified as code green. But, from Thursday, it is joined by Iceland, Poland, and Romania. The list of green-coded countries now includes:

• Malta
• Iceland
• Poland
• Romania
• Saint Eustatius 
• Saba

RIVM asks travellers from Spain and Portugal to get tested

In spite of these relaxations to the travel advice, the latest report published by the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) this week has revealed that a number of coronavirus cases are spread by travellers who have recently returned to the Netherlands. 

Between June 9 and June 15, 5,7 percent of coronavirus cases were recorded among people who had recently travelled internationally, most of whom had visited Spain or Portugal. The RIVM has therefore called on anyone who travels to Spain or Portugal to be tested for COVID-19 after arriving in the Netherlands, even if they aren’t showing any symptoms.