Holidaymakers were warned yesterday that “no travel is risk-free” as concern grew that the quarantining of arrivals from Spain will be extended to other countries.
Downing Street insisted that rules on overseas travel were under “constant review”, raising fears that the holiday plans of millions will be threatened.
At least 11 European countries where quarantine-free travel is possible have suffered Covid-19 increases in recent days, with some reaching higher infection rates than the UK. In the past fortnight Croatia and Belgium have registered twice as many cases per head as Britain. Infections have climbed in France, Germany and Austria too.
Tour operators warned of a sharp drop in bookings to short-haul destinations for the rest of the summer as confidence in overseas travel collapses after the decision on Spain.
Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, said last night that Britain had made an “error” as infections in most regions were lower than in the UK. He said talks continued to try to make the British government change its mind.
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Last night, it emerged that the government was considering cutting the quarantine period from 14 to 10 days.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has drawn up a plan to introduce mass testing for arrivals in the UK, according to The Daily Telegraph. People could be tested after eight days, just beyond the maximum seven-day incubation period for the virus, and would be freed from quarantine if the result was negative. The move would potentially allow many quarantined Britons to return to work more quickly. Up to 1.8 million people from the UK have Spanish holidays booked up until the end of August.
However, ministers dashed hopes that holidays to the Balearics and Canaries could go ahead without quarantine on return by changing travel policy on the islands to bring it into line with that for the mainland. The change leaves the plans of 830,000 Britons intending to visit the islands in tatters.
Many tour operators are now expected to cancel holidays on the islands. Tui and Jet2, the biggest companies, have already cancelled trips to the mainland for the next few weeks and Tui said that it was cancelling all those to the Balearics and Canaries from today up to Friday. Customers with holidays booked on either island group from Saturday and in mainland Spain from August 10 will be updated on Friday.
Jet2 said that it was advising customers who were due to travel to Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza not to go to the airport today as it was not operating flights to those destinations.
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The decision to extend the restrictions to cover the Spanish islands was branded an “absolute shambles” by travel agents. A number said that they had expected the government to allow arrivals from there quarantine-free.
Chris Rowles, chairman of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, said: “We in travel very much don’t wish to put our customers, or anyone else, including host destinations, at risk, quite the contrary. But looking at the figures, it could certainly be more dangerous to stay in the UK than to travel.”
The government’s policy on Spain was changed on Saturday evening, leaving five hours before the quarantine was introduced. All arrivals from Spain must self-isolate or face a £1,000 fine. Figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council yesterday showed that one person had been fined in England and Wales for breaching the rules so far.
The prime minister’s spokesman said: “Unfortunately no travel is risk-free during this pandemic and disruption is possible. So anyone travelling abroad should be aware that our travel advice is under constant review.”
Downing Street said that quarantined workers who were not paid by their employers could claim universal credit. Ministers are also considering offering coronavirus tests to all arrivals from Spain in the past week.
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According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the UK has had 14.7 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people over the past 14 days. The rate in Spain is more than twice as high at 35.1.
Other countries on Britain’s quarantine exemption list also have higher outbreaks including Belgium with 27.5; Croatia with 27.8; the Czech Republic with 20.1; and Austria with 18.5. France is close to the UK’s rate at 14.6. Luxembourg has a huge 219.4 cases per 100,000 but is on the list.
Travel operators are urging the government to scrap blanket quarantines and have “regional air bridges”, allowing safe travel to parts of countries with low Covid-19 rates. It should be coupled with testing at airports, they said.
What if I have a holiday booked?
Tour operators will begin cancelling holidays, starting with those due to depart imminently. Package holidaymakers are entitled to refunds under European rules.
What if I am an independent traveller?
You may struggle. Only one travel policy, Nationwide’s Flexplus, covers for a change in government advice because of the virus.
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What are my options?
Ask your airline and accommodation about deferrals. There is no obligation unless the booking is flexible.
Are airlines still flying?
At present, yes. Demand is expected to plunge because of Foreign Office advice. No refund is owed if your flight departs as scheduled.
Could advice for other countries change?
Yes. The government has made clear the “travel corridors” will be kept under review. It is not afraid to intervene.
Behind the story
The decision to put all arrivals from Spain in quarantine came after the Joint Biosecurity Centre, which brings together data analysis and epidemiological expertise, warned of an alarming increase in cases there.
The unit, at the Department of Health, disclosed that the number of cases in Spain had tripled in a fortnight, rising from 8.8 cases per 100,000 to 27.4.
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Although there is no single “trigger”, the unit examines the infection rate, the number of deaths and the geographical prevalence of coronavirus. It also examines the proportion of tests that are positive.
In all cases, the numbers had risen significantly. The decision to introduce the quarantine measures was made by the Covid-19 operations committee, chaired by Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, Stephen Barclay, the chief secretary to the Treasury, and Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, also attended. The committee was advised by Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England and was attended by representatives from the devolved nations.
Faced with overwhelming evidence of a sharp increase in Spain, there was little the committee could do but recommend the step now taken.
