Jump directly to the content

HOLIDAYS could be back on for Brits as air bridges to hotspots are reportedly set to go ahead - with the 14-day quarantine scrapped by the end of the month.

Special allowances for people coming into the UK from "low-risk" countries are said to be on the way after a backlash to the initial plan.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

 Holidays could be back on for Brits as air bridges to hotspots are reportedly set to go ahead
5
Holidays could be back on for Brits as air bridges to hotspots are reportedly set to go aheadCredit: PA:Press Association/PA Images

Calls have been made to water down the proposal to keep all tourists quarantined for two weeks, as Home Secretary Priti Patel is set to outline the plan later today.

Air bridges with fewer restrictions - set up after certain countries meet a safety assessment - are not part of current policy but sources say they will be introduced within weeks.

It was revealed earlier today that travellers to the UK will allowed to break the two-week coronavirus quarantine to pop out for food, attend funerals and can use public transport.

Sources they will be brought in at the first quarantine review date - June 29 - after MPs and tourism bosses slammed the initial "unworkable" policy.

 Italy is set to welcome UK travellers from tomorrow (June 3)
5
Italy is set to welcome UK travellers from tomorrow (June 3)Credit: Getty Images - Getty
 Spain will be a destination many Brits are keen to get back to, but at the minute it is unclear when they would be allowed into the country
5
Spain will be a destination many Brits are keen to get back to, but at the minute it is unclear when they would be allowed into the countryCredit: Getty Images - Getty

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our priority will always be to protect the public’s health and these new measures are being introduced to do exactly this.

"This quarantine system is designed to keep the transmission rate down, stop new cases being brought in from abroad and help prevent a devastating second wave of coronavirus. All of our decisions have been based on the latest scientific evidence.

“We are supporting businesses in the tourism sector through one of the most generous economic packages provided anywhere in the world and we will continue to look at options to increase international travel, when it is safe to do so, as we move forward.”

Current plans mean all international arrivals into the UK - apart from people carrying out a limited number of specified roles - would need to quarantine for 14 days from Monday or face a £1,000 fine.

Passengers will have to fill out a form with their address and phone number on, and could have visits from police and calls from staff checking if they are staying in.

The plan has been fiercely criticised by travel and hospitality businesses, with 40 MPs - including seven former ministers - in the Future of Aviation Group warning unless the Government changes tack, millions of jobs in the industry will be at risk.

Former transport minister Stephen Hammond told BBC Radio 4's Today programme air bridges would be a "sensible, targeted response" between low-risk countries and "the right way forward".

European countries Brits could soon jet to for a holiday

  • France is opening the borders for Brits from June 15
  • Greece announced British tourists could also travel there from June 15
  • Italy is set to welcome UK travellers from tomorrow (June 3)
  • Portugal has announced they want tourists back from June 6
  • And Spain will be a destination many Brits are keen to get back to, but at the minute it is unclear when they would be allowed into the country

Agreements would need to be reached with other countries before any policy could be introduced, but The Telegraph reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "personally in favour" of the idea.

As calls grow for the quarantine to be scrapped, further details of the proposals are expected to be laid before Parliament on Tuesday.

Today local Government minister Simon Clarke said it was "vital" there was a quarantine on new arrivals coming into the UK or there could be a deadly second wave of the virus.

He told BBC Breakfast: "Quarantine is an issue we have considered very carefully. It's about making sure as the UK cases continue to decline we don't import new cases from abroad."

 Portugal has announced they want tourists back from June 6
5
Portugal has announced they want tourists back from June 6Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The Guardian reported that quarantined travellers would be able to stay in multiple homes, go food shopping, change accommodation and use public transport from airports.

But a Government source said people would be expected to stay in one home, use private transport and only venture outside where absolutely necessary.

However as resistance to the entire idea grows, there are reports the groups of people exempt from quarantine is set to be expanded and air bridges announced soon to placate unimpressed MPs.

We are supporting businesses in the tourism sector through one of the most generous economic packages provided anywhere in the world and we will continue to look at options to increase international travel, when it is safe to do so, as we move forward.

Home Office spokesperson

Messages on holiday travel from the Government have been confused as the UK slowly emerges out of lockdown.

Initially Health Secretary Matt Hancock dashed all hopes of a trip abroad by saying holidays out of the country "would not be possible", before Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told a committee of MPs his idea of air bridges was in the works.

Then, in the space of four days the announcement was rubbished and then quietly reintroduced as something the Government was considering.

The 14-day quarantine plans sent travel bosses reeling and Border Force staff damning it as "unenforceable", before further announcements were made exempting certain countries.

But adding to summer holiday hopes, Portugal has said it was ready to welcome back Brits within days because it reportedly believes the UK has coronavirus "under control".

France will also open up the border to Brits from June 15, while Italy is keen to kickstart the tourism there - allowing travellers in from tomorrow.

Meanwhile Greece’s tourism minister Harry Theocharis told the  the epidemic was moving “in the right direction” in the UK and coronavirus restrictions for Britons would be lifted from June 15.

LOCKDOWN WARNING

It comes after Mr Hancock warned if infection rates rose again more serious lockdown measures would be brought back: "We are attempting to move the system from these national, blanket measures to a more targeted approach.

"This is why test and trace is such an important part of that.

"But we have always said that we are prepared to reintroduce measures - whether that is nationally or in response to a localised outbreak - if that is necessary."

The government has previously said that, once systems to monitor new cases around the country are in place, regional lockdowns could be imposed to address localised outbreaks.

Yesterday saw Brits flocking to beaches around the country to make the most of temperature highs of 26C.

Warm weather in recent weeks has led to concerns about increased levels of social contact and a possible second spike in infections.

Also speaking at today's briefing, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said: "This is a really, really critical time."

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW

Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.

To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .

Coronavirus deaths in the UK have risen to 39,045 after 111 new fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The total daily increase of fatalities was actually 556 up on Sunday after 445 earlier deaths in England were also now attributed to the killer bug.

These additional deaths are linked to cases that have been identified through testing that has been carried out by commercial partners, rather than testing that has been done in NHS and Public Health England laboratories.

A total of 276,332 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain.

5
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says blanket quarantine measures will be reintroduced if needed
Machibet
WEEKLY 77,777 BDT CASH LUCKY DRAW!
18+ | Play Responsibly | gamblingtherapy.org | T&Cs Apply
  • Huge variety of game types
  • Range of Valuable rewards 
  • Bangladesh’s most trusted online casino
Show More
Welcome to MachiBet and discover a huge range of games, from Baccarat to Roulette to Andar Bahar with live dealers, as well as tons of exciting slot games. MachiBet was founded by a group of passionate sports betting enthusiasts with the goal of providing users with the best gaming experience. Over the years, we have collected and analyzed decades of user feedback to create the ultimate gaming platform for our valued customers.