Angry Britons have vowed to continue flying to Spain despite facing 10 days quarantine if the country is put on the 'amber plus' list. Travellers at Heathrow Terminal 5 said any change in the rules 'won't stop us going on holiday' as they prepared to jet to the Mediterranean. They said a holiday in the sun outweighs the risk even if they are not 'made of money' because 'we all need to get away and relax'. Holidaymakers could face fresh chaos amid claims Spain is on the verge of being placed on the 'amber plus' list for quarantine. The move, which could leave hundreds of thousands of Britons having to self-isolate unexpectedly on return, is believed to be on the cards amid growing concern about cases of the South African variant. But Whitehall sources are increasingly confident France will be downgraded to 'amber' when the categories are reviewed next week - and there are hopes Germany and Austria could go green. The speculation comes as the 'Covid O' group of ministers decided fully-vaccinated travellers from the EU and US will be spared quarantine after ministers signed off an exemption. Despite Labour branding it 'reckless', the easing went ahead after Boris Johnson voiced concerns the EU was further ahead in welcoming international travellers than the UK and risk 'squandering its vaccine bonus'. There is also a new wave of optimism after coronavirus cases tumbled for a seventh day running - with ministers privately claiming the crisis is now 'all over bar the shouting'. Mr Johnson said this morning that dropping self-isolation rules for people who are 'pinged' is 'nailed on' for August 16. But he is defying furious Tory demands for the date to be brought forward, amid warnings from businesses of food shortages caused by so many staff being off. As the country waits anxiously for the next phase of the pandemic: The International Monetary Fund upgraded its forecasts to predict the UK economy would bounce back with 7 per cent growth this year; Boris Johnson slapped down Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove for branding vaccine refusers 'selfish' and warning they could be barred from venues; The Department of Health admitted daily testing was just as effective as self-isolation; New figures revealed a record 1.13million children were off school in the final week of term because of self-isolation rules; Leaked Covid hospitalisation figures suggested almost half of patients tested positive only after being admitted; A further 131 virus-related deaths were reported – the highest figure since March – while Covid patients in hospital rose to 5,918. Melissa Garcia (pictured), 27, a student from London, turned up at Heathrow to jet off on holiday with her friends, but was not allowed to fly because she only had her second Covid jab last week Tourists returning to the UK from Spain will have to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of jabs, if it is placed on the amber-plus list next week. Pictured: Heathrow today There is also a new wave of optimism after coronavirus cases tumbled for a seventh day running - with ministers privately claiming the crisis is now 'all over bar the shouting'. Pictured: Playa Segur de Calafell Beach in Calafell, Spain, last month Travellers at Heathrow Terminal 5 said any change in the rules 'won't stop us going on holiday' as they prepared to jet to the Mediterranean. Pictured: Heathrow today They said a holiday in the sun outweighs the risk even if they are not 'made of money' because 'we all need to get away and relax'. Pictured: Heathrow today Holidaymakers could face fresh chaos amid claims Spain is on the verge of being placed on the 'amber plus' list for quarantine. Pictured: Heathrow today The move, which could leave hundreds of thousands of Britons having to self-isolate unexpectedly on return, is believed to be on the cards amid growing concern about cases of the South African variant. Pictured: Heathrow today Britain is open for business! Ministers back dropping quarantine rules for fully-vaccinated travellers from EU and US as well as ex-pats who had jabs abroad Fully-vaccinated travellers from the EU and US are set to be spared quarantine after ministers signed off an exemption today. The powerful 'Covid O' group is understood to have agreed that the self-isolation requirements can be dropped for some of the UK's major trading partners. Ex-pats who have received jabs abroad are also set to be given a dispensation. All will still need to get tests in a bid to reduce the risk that they are infected. Boris Johnson had privately voiced concerns the EU was further ahead in welcoming international travellers and the UK risked 'squandering its vaccine bonus'. The policy decision applies to England, but there is an expectation that Scotland and Wales will follow suit. However, Labour has branded the approach 'reckless', warning it risks importing more variants. Advertisement Tourists returning to the UK from Spain will have to quarantine for 10 days, regardless of jabs, if it is placed on the amber-plus list next week. France is currently the only country on the plus-list after a rise in Beta-variant cases sparked concern. But this could be about to change. The government is planning on reviewing its 'traffic light' country ratings next Wednesday or Thursday, with Spain and Greece rumoured to be in the amber-plus firing line. But Spanish bound passengers say a holiday outweighs the risk, even if they're not 'made of money'. Laura Morrison, a 44-year-old teacher from Richmond, south west London, who is taking her family to Lanzarote for two weeks, said: 'It's our first holiday of the year and it's been really stressful, especially getting all the tests and stuff for my two daughters. 'I know it's risky taking a holiday, because if Spain gets put on the amber-plus list my husband would have to take a test to release for work. 'But the children have been stuck inside for months and, although we're not made of money, we all need to get away and relax. 'The whole traffic light system is just confusing: they should just leave it as red, amber and green. 'I think it's really a money-maker for the Government. The tests should be free and people should not be penalised for going on holiday.' Melissa Garcia, 27, a student from London, turned up at Heathrow to jet off on holiday with her friends, but was not allowed to fly because she only had her second Covid jab last week. She said: 'I'm studying in London and was suppose to fly to Madrid today for a holiday with my friends, but because I only got my second jab last week, I can't go. 'So British Airways booked me on a flight next week free of charge, but my friends won't be there anymore. If they put Spain on the amber-plus list then I'll have to quarantine when I get back, but I would rather that than cancel my holiday. 'They should make it a different colour because I think it would be easier to understand. It's really confusing having an amber-plus list.' Reprieve? Travel to France (left) might soon be easier... but holidaymakers in Spain may have to quarantine even if double-jabbed Whitehall sources are increasingly confident that France will be removed from the 'amber plus' list, which requires people to self-isolate for ten days on return even if fully vaccinated. Pictured, Mahon, the capital city of Menorca in Spain Arthur, 18, who recently finished school, said: 'I'm visiting some family friends in Ibiza for about five days. My travels are pretty much done after this trip, but I can understand why people are getting frustrated. What are the rules on returning to England from an amber list country? Since July 19, people who have received both vaccine doses in the UK at least 14 days prior to travelling have not been required to self-isolate when returning from 'amber list' destinations. They are also not obliged to take a Covid test on day eight after getting back. However, that get-out does not apply to 'amber plus' France at the moment amid concerns about the prevalence of the Beta - or South African - strain. Non-vaccinated people returning from 'amber list' countries must take a private PCR or lateral flow test in the three days before departing for England. Before arriving back you must also book and pay for day two and day eight Covid-19 tests. You can choose to pay for a private Covid-19 test on day five, and if it is negative that ends self-isolation. Advertisement 'If Spain gets put on the amber plus list and I have to quarantine, I would be annoyed. I wouldn't want to waste two weeks of my summer, so I would look at just going somewhere else like France or Portugal.' Another passenger, also travelling to Lanzarote from Heathrow, said: 'It is what it is really. If you've decided to go away you've weighed up your risk already, so it doesn't really matter if it's amber or amber plus. 'With all tests you have to pay for and paper work to fill out, I think most people will have weighed up the risks before travelling.' Akilla Gaziza, 50, a teacher for children with special needs from Kew Bridge, West London, said: 'I'm going to Portugal with my 11-year-old daughter for a week to relax and get some sun. 'I think it's fantastic news because I like my freedom and it's a real sense of liberty. 'Before it was very stressful because there were too many rules and regulations. 'When you came through passport control you felt like a convict. 'Now, you just download the NHS app and it shows I've been double jabbed. 'The only thing they have to work on is getting the app on Android.' Ollie, a 29-year-old researcher, said: 'I'm visiting my cousin and aunt in Portugal for 10 days. 'I've been double vaccinated so I think it's a good thing. 'I actually went to a walk-in centre to get my second vaccine early. 'I wouldn't want us to get rid of all the restrictions, but waving goodbye to quarantine is a relief. 'I've not been able to see my family in over year and it's been tough. 'There always going to be an issue with whose last in the queue with these things. 'I think people who chose not to get the jab can always reconsider if they want to avoid quarantining.' But not everyone is happy with the 'get out of jail' double vaccine rule, claiming it's unfair and discriminatory for those who have not been jabbed. Flora Perez, 41, from Galicia in Spain, who visits her boyfriend in Devon regularly and is planning on moving to the UK said: 'I have not yet been vaccinated and don't plan on doing so. 'I think my immune system is strong enough and I don't know what's in those vaccines. Plus, the Covid rates are really low, and I just think the vaccines are experimental. 'I think it's totally unfair and discriminatory that people who are vaccinated don't have to quarantine. 'They can catch the virus too and my reasons for not getting it are personal. 'If I don't have any symptoms then I think I should be allowed to travel - especially seeing as I've had to get tested.' The UK economy is estimated to be losing as much as £639million every day because of the current limits in place on incoming tourists. After the fully-vaccinated EU and US travellers, other countries could be added to the quarantine-free travel list at a later date. Since July 19, double jabbed Britons have been able to travel to and from amber list countries without quarantining upon their return, but the same right was not extended to those who received jabs abroad. The plans would initially only apply to England but other UK nations could follow suit. Under the proposals, airlines will be expected to approve passengers' vaccine status before check-in for England-bound flights, to prevent huge queues at passport control. A trial was carried out by Heathrow, BA and Virgin which found they could overcome 99 per cent of the difficulties in verifying the vaccination status of travellers from the US. Different states have different paper and digital certificates, but airports and airlines are hoping for the new rules to be smoothly adopted. Ministers will also approve plans to allow all double vaccinated expats to travel to the UK from amber list countries without the need to quarantine. Only Britons vaccinated by the NHS are currently exempt from quarantine. Travellers who transit through certain red country hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi could also avoid hotel quarantine if they remain airside during their connections, according to The Telegraph. But Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner condemned the plans for quarantine exemptions. 'This is reckless. We know that the Delta variant came into this country and delayed the lifting of some of the restrictions and caused infections here,' she told Sky News. 'We need to make sure that we have got data driven analysis and we look at an international passport for vaccines. We also know that people who have had the vaccine of course can still get the virus, so a testing regime is very important and crucial as well.' Current amber and red list destinations. A review of the UK travel list is expected on Wednesday or Thursday next week Pressure to change Spain's designation follows concern about the Beta variant, which emerged in South Africa and is thought to be more resistant to the AstraZeneca vaccine given to millions in the UK. A Whitehall source said: 'The situation in Spain is beginning to feel a lot like the build-up to the decision on France. 'The Department of Health are getting very jumpy about the number of Beta cases in parts of the country. We're not talking about the main tourist hotspots, but that might not make any difference – it didn't with France.' The shock move to place France in its own category earlier this month wrecked thousands of families' holidays as well as the plans of many expats hoping to see loved ones for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Holiday cover blow Families who lose their holidays because one or more member is 'pinged' face losing their cash as well. Many travel insurance policies will not cover people who have to cancel after a notification to self-isolate from the NHS Test & Trace app. Nine in 10 policies do pay out if the policyholder tests positive for Covid. But this falls to six in 10 when a trip is cancelled due to a ping, said analysts Defaqto. Amid fears of a hit to bookings, package holiday firm TUI is allowing people pinged to change their dates for free. Anna-Marie Duthie, from Defaqto, said some insurers would be sympathetic, but added: 'Policyholders should read their policies carefully to be sure they fully understand what cover they have, and if in doubt contact their insurers before changing any travel plans.' Advertisement Cases of the Delta variant have fallen sharply in France in recent weeks and ministers are confident it will be restored to the same status as other amber list countries, meaning fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to quarantine when they return. One source said: 'France is going to happen. It should never have been left out in the first place – the Department of Health just panicked. But there could be no justification for keeping restrictions in place now.' Any move to put Spain on the 'amber plus' list is likely to provoke a fierce row within Government. Although there is concern about the Beta variant, many experts believe it is being 'crowded out' by the more virulent Delta variant now spreading rapidly across Spain. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, told MailOnline: 'I think that this whole travel situation is a mess with no consistent approach and lots of mixed messages. 'By what criteria are these decisions about amber-plus countries being made? 'Spain has had higher levels of the beta variant for some time so placing it on the amber-plus list now feels a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted! 'Much better to keep the before and after testing regime approach with proof of full vaccination.' The shock move to place France in its own category earlier this month wrecked thousands of families' holidays. Pictured, a covid testing site by the Eiffel Tower in France Spain has seen a recent uptick in infections that could force the government to add it to the travel quarantine list All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility