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There is still yet to be a decision on whether the UK government will open an air bridge between the country and Portugal, which would allow visitors to not have to quarantine in the UK for 14 days once they arrive back from a trip to Portugal.
The online petition, which can be found at www.change.org/PortugalAirBridge, had already received more than 5,000 signatures and calls for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “Get your finger out” and “Give a nation that has done very well in fighting this virus a summer season from the start of July”.
The petition was set up by Charles Barrett who has been a regular visitor to Portugal for the last six years with his wife and twin 12 year old girls.
Charles Barrett, who lives in Dunlop in Scotland, told The Portugal News: “My belief in life has always been for fairness, honesty and transparency. I have been following the dealing with Covid-19 here and elsewhere as that is most of the news nowadays. As such when I read that Portugal may be classified as red in the new UK traffic light system I was baffled given the facts I had read on and how each EU country including the UK has been dealing with this virus.
He continued: “My motivation was therefore to fight for my beliefs and for Portugal. Given that I do not have direct access to influencers on this matter I could only influence hopefully with people (as people matter in this world) through Change.Org. I also believe that we have to support each other as people at this time anyway we can no matter which country you are from or reside. Portugal and its people need tourists to live and survive through this pandemic and indeed tourists need Portugal for its safeness, beautiful resorts, friendly people and a cheap holiday to recover and relax after being in lockdown for so long. As such the introduction of an Air Bridge between the countries helps both Portugal and UK residents in my world”.
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Must be open bridge.
By Carlos Fernandes from UK on 01 Jul 2020, 18:49
Portugal will not disappoint, it rarely does.
By Maurice Correia from Other on 01 Jul 2020, 19:47
Its important for Portugal and the British
By Leonor Caetano Freitas from Madeira on 01 Jul 2020, 19:55
I have a property in Algarve so many bills to sort out -come from Norfolk which had very few outbreaks
By Catherine Honeyman from UK on 01 Jul 2020, 20:36
I think Portugal is in a better position than the U.K. and so it makes no sense for it not to be on the list if travel bridge countries. The U.K. is the pariah not Portugal.
By June hales from UK on 01 Jul 2020, 20:58
I would feel safer going to Portugal than uk we go every year and love it there come on government give Portugal the air bridge as Spain and France over last couple weeks had more spikes than Portugal
By Gina from UK on 01 Jul 2020, 21:01
I agree wholeheartedly and the economy relies on tourism so without that Portugal would be in terrible trouble with economy
By June Delicia Bowmer from UK on 01 Jul 2020, 21:03
Trop dangereux et beaucoup trop tôt pour ce pont aérien
By Michel Schuermans from Algarve on 01 Jul 2020, 21:49
Please please the areas of infection are Lisbon Metropolitan residential parishes.
By Marília Guerreiro from UK on 01 Jul 2020, 22:37
Portugal is safe place for holidays
By MARIA MOUSINHO from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 07:54
We sincerely hope that a decision may be found in order to support Portugal's tourist industry.Our only fear is that hordes of unruly ill disciplined British tourists will bring another spike in the virus. After all Great Britain is not a great example of discipline in the face of this devastating plague
By Jeremy from Algarve on 02 Jul 2020, 08:13
I am thinking that Charles has a somewhat vested interest in this and does not have a background in epidemiology. Really PN is this what you call news? Maybe a cat stuck up tree story next? Let's try and keep the Algarve safe by promoting responsible and helpful stories rather than fluffy marketing pieces.
By Stuart from Algarve on 02 Jul 2020, 08:27
I support a bridge between
Portugal and uk
By Marion leeson from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 08:46
The country must be desperate to ask for travellers from the most infected country of Europe. One would have to laugh if it wasn't so sad.
By John Dough from Lisbon on 02 Jul 2020, 08:48
I agree Portugal should have air bridges like France and Germany
By Mario Castro from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 08:55
I have a property in portugal and it has been left empty since march indeed to get there for maintenance reasons and also for my summer vacation with my family and friends.
By Stephen Gibbs from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 08:55
I agree Portugal should have air bridges like France and Germany
By Mario Castro from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 08:58
Been in Porto Santo for 16weeks. Going home via Amsterdam on Sat. No covid 19on island for over a month and I have to quarantine when I get home to the UK!
By M. L. Sumner from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 09:14
Obviously, you all have a vested interest...You either want or need to visit the Algarve, or you are in the Algarve and you want everybody else to stay away...I'd be more interested in the cat in the tree. Perhaps it is an Iberian lynx. They do climb trees you know.
By William from Other on 02 Jul 2020, 13:45
This particular situation with air bridge to Portugal sound's a completely challenge and began for mercy let having green corridor, normally I've being travel to Portugal since last 23 years ,e believe on my behalf Portugal isn't desperate for tourism like many people mentioned ,so simple they are kind and always welcome anyone came from an part of the world .. obviously there are concerns in Lisbon ,but is plenty parts of the country you can enjoy yourself completely safe .. something being knocked since last few days UK judging Portugal having more people infected than an European countries, that is completely rubbish, should we going back several weeks also present day ? How many infected people Spain , Italy,France carry out daily? Or deaths ? Amazing to far from my point of view ,but UK government might have being ster deferent pot to making bubles pop up with higher concerns ..all this it's called political controversial running blind without seen first what's is opposite..
By joe santos from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 13:52
Should be Portuguese government have long conversation with UK government showing Portugal it's quite safe..I've being watched worldometer since last 3 months and seems to me daily France and Spain also UK provided high infected people but at the news paper saying Portugal bits the worst !! Really ??? Please watch online this site ( worldometer) you I'll se who's on the top or bottom ..,my motivation is creating a good standard tourism's between UK and Portugal and let people be safe up there..
By joe santos from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 14:02
In response to Stuart for the record ai have no vested interest whatsoever. I have sufficient funds that I can holiday anywhere in the world or even come to Portugal via Spain with the open border. My interest is fairness, transparency and a belief in people. Perhaps Stuart you have a vested interest of your own in the Algarve and have no sympathy for the people from Portugal who need to earn a living day to day from tourists. In Scotland we have very little new cases and 0 deaths 4 out of the last 5 days so why would I want to take my family somewhere dangerous. My view is that it is not. We love it probably just like you or else why do you live there? Best wishes.
By Charles Barrett from UK on 02 Jul 2020, 19:39
What would be the advantage of having British tourists bringing in the virus to Portugal? UK has a death rate of 648 deaths / 1m hab, Portugal has a death rate of 156 / 1m hab. Let you stay put for a while in your island. The air bridge is not needed.
By Alexandre Herculano from Algarve on 03 Jul 2020, 15:55
The UK has the worst handling of Corona virus in Europe & the 5th worst in the world and is refusing free entry to Portugal travelers, is Boris Johnson mad? He should be opening up to countries with such a good record. The real time to introduce a quarantine would have been when we were allowing so many people with the virus in.
By David Wallington from UK on 04 Jul 2020, 12:22
Portugal is one of the safest and most progessive country in Europe in reducing the risk of transmitting the coronavirus.
Portugal must be included now in list of countries for traveling freely to and from the UK.
By Paul from UK on 04 Jul 2020, 12:27
We have been living in Portugal during the pandemic and have nothing but admiration for Portugal's Government & people and the way they have dealt with the problem. How dare Boris Johnson treat our longest ally so disgracefully.
By Elizabeth Wallington from UK on 04 Jul 2020, 12:27
Considering the UK has one of the highest death rates due to Covid, has Leicester on lockdown and with 36 other cities, counties and Burroughs at high risk of the same fate, it is rich from Boris to impose a 14 day quarantine to those visiting Portugal. What a pathetic leader. However Charles Barrett has initiated a petition in Change.org that is not recognised by the British government. It needs to be on Fernanda Manuela De Carvalho-Costa no it isn't. Change.org is not recognised by the British government. It needs to be on Fernanda Manuela De Carvalho-Costa no it isn't. Change.org is not recognised by the British government. It needs to be on https://petition.parliament.uk/
By Fernanda De Carvalho from UK on 04 Jul 2020, 15:36
Algarve is so much safer than here in the UK we need this air bridge now they need us we need them
By Deborah Miles from UK on 05 Jul 2020, 21:25
no quarantine
By Jammie Weston from UK on 25 Jul 2020, 13:31