COSTA BRAVO
Spain quarantine to be slashed to 10 days for UK travellers arriving from country under Government plans
QUARANTINE is set to be slashed to ten days for Brits coming home from Spain under Government plans.
The two week self-isolation will be cut by several days after thousands of Brits' holidays were thrown into chaos, The Daily Telegraph reports.
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It comes after confused holidaymakers now fear a ruined summer with trips facing the axe after an effective travel ban was slapped on Spain this weekend.
The devastating blow came as long-awaited European holidays for thousands of Brits were thrown into chaos with families cancelling trips to Europe.
It is believed new plans are being finalised to lessen the sting of the restrictions now in place.
The arrivals from high-risk countries could be tested eight days after landing for coronavirus, and if the results are negative they would be allowed to leave self-isolation.
It would potentially keep Brits returning from holiday in quarantine for just one week.
It comes as:
- Thousands of holidays remain in limbo as people struggle to get refunds or change their bookings
- Spain hits back saying it's safer to be in the Costas than in the UK
- Jet2 cancels all holidays and flights to mainland Spain
- No10 warned that no travel was "risk free" in the current climate
- Transport Secretary Grant Schapps dashed back to the UK from his Spanish break - but he will have to quarantine
- Brits were told not to travel to Spain's islands of Majorca, Ibiza and the Canary Islands in Government U-turn
It is believed that if someone tests negative for the virus eight days after any possible exposure, it is likely they do not have the disease.
A Government spokesman said the 10-day quarantine period was under discussion but that no final decision had yet been made.
Thousands were unexpectedly told to self-isolate at home for 14 days
on their return from Spain.
Yesterday No10 extended it to those returning from the likes of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Majorca and Ibiza — despite some ministers,
officials and backbench Tories pushing for an exemption.
And ministers did not rule out extending quarantine to more of
our favourite holiday spots, including France.
There has been a surge in 'staycations' due to travelling fears, with campsites, bed and breakfasts and cottages in high demand.
Staycation Holidays owner Charles Millward said Brits should be "worried" about finding accommodation in the UK next year.
"The staycation has suddenly become massive for us this summer and I think it will be even bigger next year," he said.
"People don't want to run the risk of falling ill abroad or having to quarantine."
Mr Millward said bookings had soared by 50 per cent this summer, and that the cost of his company's properties will rise by 20 per cent next year, to make up for money lost due to the lockdown.
"I think that will happen more and more as owners have lost thousands of pounds and need it back," he said.
One of Mr Millward's properties has just three weekends free in 2021 from March through to September.
10 BRITS SPARKED QUARANTINE
Ten Brits testing positive for coronavirus after returning from Spain sparked the new 14-day quarantine rule.
The unexpected quarantine announcement was made after England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty addressed Cabinet's "Covid-O" committee.
The "clincher" that convinced senior ministers to introduce the quarantine was when they were told that 10 Brits had tested positive for the bug after visiting Spain since July 1.
Prof Whitty said the number was "statistically significant" and that Covid-19 cases in Spain had jumped by 75 per cent.
"It was a small number but it was statistically significant enough to cause concern," a source who was briefed on the meeting told the .
PLAN TO SAVE SUMMER
In the fallout of the unpopular clamp down on Spanish getaways, ministers have reportedly been debating ways to save the summer holiday season and calm frantic Brits.
But furious families hit out at the sudden restrictions on travelling to Spain yesterday evening, which would see them lose money and valuable holiday time.
And Brits returning home on Monday told of their anger at being trapped in the mess - with many slamming a lack of social distancing as they queued to leave Luton Airport.
Joanne Jackson, 49, flew home after a two-week break in Nerja and said she has now lost £2,000 in wages.
The care worker, of Manchester, said: "Everyone abroad should have been given two weeks' notice, not just a few hours.
"Who is going to pay my wages? Who is going to pay my mortgage and bills? What will I do for money?"
Shop worker Amanda Charilaou, 49, of Darlington, arrived back at Newcastle Airport after a week in Benidorm with her mother Janet and daughter Olivia, ten.
She said: “I spoke to my boss and unfortunately I’m not going to get paid.
“I just can’t believe we were allowed to fly last Monday no problem and now this happened.
“I also have two sons at home who work full-time, so if we all stay together that’s three of us for two weeks with no pay.”
Retired engineer Ted Taylor, 80, and his wife Dorothy, 79. of Gateshead, spent a week in Benidorm celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.
Ted, 80, said: “Everything was absolutely lovely until we got back. But I think the Government have done the right thing, definitely.
"They did this so quickly they must have had good reason.”
MILLIONS CANCEL TRIPS
Back in Spain, Karen Maling Cowles, of the Benidorm British Businesses Association, said: “It’s a huge setback for us all. It will massively affect the little tourism that we do have this year.”
Many people will now be nervous of booking flights and hotels abroad in case the Government changes travel advice again and they lose money.
It is thought some 14million Brits will no longer plan trips abroad, with tour operators left in the lurch.
Amid the chaos, flights could be scuppered at any moment - with Jet2 yesterday cancelling flights to mainland Spain until August 17, and TUI announcing it would not fly to Spain.
Saturday's announcement, which gave just four hours' notice, affected as many as 600,000 Brits booked on Spanish getaways, as many frantically tried to get home this weekend before the quarantine was imposed.
The decision to reimpose quarantine on all UK arrivals from Spain, was taken after the Cabinet’s coronavirus operations committee heard about Brits bringing the virus into the UK.
Tens of thousands of Brits say they cannot afford to effectively take a month off work - with no guarantee from the government regarding their jobs amid the new advice.
Brits returning from Spain cannot claim sick pay - so key worker Nicola is now worried about overspending on holiday due to fears of lost wages.
I don’t know what’s going to happen with me for work, if they’re going to make me take leave or holiday and you’ve got that hanging over you.
Nicola Ley
She said: “We have got a private pool so we’re trying to enjoy our holiday, but it’s been ruined by the two weeks when we get back.
“We don’t want to spend any money now because we’ve lost the next two weeks at our jobs.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with me for work, if they’re going to make me take leave or holiday and you’ve got that hanging over you.”
Downing Street even advised those who miss out on work due to the sudden quarantine should claim Universal Credit or employment support allowance - up to £74.35 a week - to make ends meet.
Workers could be sacked or lose out on cash while sticking to the sudden rules - as employers do not have to offer any pay while they are off.
Typifying the chaos, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was himself on holiday in Spain before being forced to rush back to Britain - and quarantine - in an effort to sort out the confusion.
Yesterday evening a U-turn saw Brits told not to travel to Spain's islands of Majorca, Ibiza and the Canary Islands.
Earlier on Monday tourists from the UK were still free to visit the Balearic islands, but only essential journeys are now advised, after ministers rowed over keeping them out of the restrictions.
The Sun understands there were heated discussion in No10 over “whether there should be a different approach” before the PM got involved and called for a simplified message.
Paul Mitchell, 55, and Dawn Painter, 44, who live in East Sussex, flew into Heathrow Airport from Alicante on Monday afternoon after spending 10 days at a holiday home in Arboleas.
Travel: What are your rights to a refund?
MILLIONS of Brits have had holiday plans cancelled.
Firstly, speak to your airline or holiday firm about a refund or rearranging your plans.
You are entitled to a refund if they've cancelled your holiday but many have large delays or may offer vouchers instead.
As the FCO is advising against all but essential international travel, you may also be covered by your travel insurance if the holiday provider or airline is not helping you.
Keep in mind the travel insurance must have been taken out before the FCO advice changed, otherwise you won't be covered.
If you don't have travel insurance, you may be able to claim your money back through your credit or debit card provider.
Credit card payments between £100 and £30,000 are covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Rights Act.
To start a claim, you need to contact your credit card provider directly - has a free tool that can help you do this.
Ms Painter said: "We've come from a sleepy little village where everyone is social distancing, it wasn't on a beach in Benidorm or anything like that, and we're being penalised for that, just like all the big cities are basically."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the decision to impose a 14-day quarantine was "unjust".
"We are talking with British authorities to try to get them to reconsider a measure that, in our opinion, is not well adjusted if we consider the epidemiological criteria of Spain, particularly in some tourist destinations in our country," he told TV network Telecinco.
Coronavirus fatalities in the UK hit 45,759 yesterday after seven more died with the killer bug - one of the lowest daily rises since the virus took hold in the UK.
But a total of 300,111 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain - a rise of 685 cases from yesterday.
Earlier on Monday This Morning's travel expert Simon Calder was slammed online for "encouraging viewers to break quarantine" - with host Ruth Langsford forced to cut him off.
The 64-year-old travel pro was branded a "danger to public health" as horrified fans watched in shock while he shared loopholes surrounding the 14-day quarantine Brits face when travelling to Spain.
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It was revealed only one person has been fined by cops for breaching quarantine rules after arriving in the country from abroad - however this doesn't include fines issued by Border Force, who had given out three by July 10.
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Under the quarantine rules, travellers must stay indoors for 14 days at n address given to officials at the airport upon landing, and only allowed out to shop if they cannot rely on others to help.
As fears grow that more destinations will be slapped with restrictions, France and Germany have confirmed a spike in coronavirus cases, while Italy and Greece have also seen infections rise since tourists returned.
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Chaos at Luton Airport with no social distancing as passengers arrive back from Spain to quarantine