THE US and Greece are excluded from a list of around 60 countries and overseas territories that English holidaymakers can visit without needing to self-isolate on their return, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has revealed.

Quarantine restrictions for people returning to or visiting England from destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Germany will be lifted from July 10.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it was "disappointing" that the UK Government announced its plan "before a four nations agreement has been reached".

READ MORE: Air bridges: Scottish Government 'disappointed' by UK announcement

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will exempt a number of countries from its advisory against all non-essential travel from Saturday.

Around 60 countries and overseas territories are on the UK Government's initial list for lifting quarantine restrictions, which will be published later today. 

This includes New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

In a later interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Shapps said the US is not included as "they have got very high numbers of infections", while Greece does not feature as it has banned flights from the UK until July 15.

The Scottish Government said the UK Government's list consists of countries "which present differing levels of risk".

The Scottish Government says ministers are considering the public health impact of the changes, and will make decisions “based on scientific advice to protect communities in Scotland”.

A spokesman said: "The UK Government's latest plans for air bridges, released overnight, include countries which present differing levels of risk.

"Scottish ministers are actively considering the public health impact of these proposals, as well as the data and evidence underpinning them. Once they have done that they will announce any changes in relation to Scotland.

"The public health measures relating to international travel are an important part of the wider response to this pandemic - to protect people and ensure that we limit the introduction of new chains of transmission of the virus when our own infection rates are falling.

"We will take decisions based on scientific advice to protect communities in Scotland. Of course the prospect of cases coming in from elsewhere poses a risk, not just to health but also to our economy.

"It is important to stress that, at any point, changing prevalence of the virus could lead to quarantine requirements on travel from different countries being put in place.

"It is disappointing that the UK Government have chosen to make an announcement on the countries they intend to exempt before a four-nations agreement has been reached.

"We would still like to reach a four-nations approach if possible but that is difficult when the UK Government change proposals and give us last-minute sight of them."