Fears are rising that the Balearic islands are likely to be moved off the UK’s green travel list at tomorrow’s traffic light review.

Several newspapers have reported that a sudden rise in COVID cases on the popular holiday islands has led the Government to consider quarantining holidaymakers when they return to the UK.

Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera were moved onto the UK’s travel green watchlist on 24 June, but since then cases of coronavirus on the islands – particularly in family-favourite Majorca – have rocketed.

On Tuesday, there were 599 new cases reported in the whole of the Balearics, 244 more than on Monday. Of the new cases, 420 were in Majorca, 97 were in Ibiza and 80 in Menorca.

There are now 378 cases per 100,000 head of population in the Balearics. Last year, the UK Government closed travel corridors with countries that had more than 25 cases per 100,000.

If the islands are moved onto the amber travel list, holidaymakers will have to self-isolate for up to 10 days when they return home.

However, those who are fully vaccinated or under 18 won’t have to quarantine when returning from amber countries from 19 July when the Government will ease travel restrictions.

But travel PR Paul Charles is warning that the Balearics could be moved straight to the UK red list, meaning holidaymakers will have to pay up to £1,750 a head to quarantine in a Government-appointed hotel when they return.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps warned this morning that some countries could be moved off the green list. When asked if the Balearics was among them, he told BBC Breakfast said: “I don’t have the information for you, we’ll make that decision once we’ve looked at the latest data and when we make the decision [on the] review due this week.

“But it is entirely true to say that we do expect that countries will move from one category to another, and I hope we’ve been very, very clear, including by introducing things like the green watch list, that when you book, you must make sure that your flight is refundable that your, your hotel booking is amendable because we are living still unfortunately in a world where things can and do change quite quickly.

“Some countries may go to the red list, some countries may go to the green, but some may move the other way to the amber list.

“It is a fact of life that they will continue to move around as the virus continues to develop and change globally.”