HOLIDAYS abroad are off the cards for now as the UK enforces a two-week quarantine on anyone entering the country.
Despite the travel industry slowly restarting following the pandemic, with Spain welcoming Brits back last week, the restrictions are in place for both nationals and tourists entering the UK.
Since June 8, new quarantine restrictions were imposed on travellers arriving in the UK.
The new rules are to be reviewed every three weeks by the government, with the first review due to take place on June 29.
Here, we've explained what the quarantine rules currently are – and if you're any closer to taking your summer holiday.
Will I have to quarantine when I come back from holiday?
Yes. The government is now enforcing a two-week quarantine for anyone entering the country, either by plane, train or boat.
In force since earlier this month, this applies to Brits returning to the country as well as international tourists entering the country.
Brit families could be forced to take five weeks of annual leave for a one week holiday, with two weeks of quarantine in the foreign country, and then another two weeks when returning to the UK.
The UK government is also yet to lift the advice against all non-essential travel abroad, although there are suggestions this could happen within the next few days.
What are the quarantine rules in the UK?
Anyone entering the UK will need to provide contact details of where they are staying.
Those who fail to fill out the forms with be given a fixed penalty notice of £100.
Anyone who refuses to quarantine will be fined £1,000 or even face jail time.
Police will also be conducting checks to ensure people are quarantining and not leaving their residence for the two-week period.
Magistrates will also have the powers to prosecute or to issue unlimited fines for persistent breaches of the new self-isolation rule, or for refusal to pay a fine that has already been issued.
The quarantine will be run and enforced by Border Force, police officers, and Public Health England officials.
For Brits living in the UK, they can quarantine at their own home, but will not be allowed to leave the house for two weeks.
Anyone without accommodation will be provided somewhere by the government.
Whole enforcement is seen as a "last resort" those who refuse to comply with the laws may be refused entry through UK borders.
The Home Secretary Priti Patel recently said: "We expect the vast majority of people to do the right thing and comply with these new requirements. We will not allow a reckless majority to endanger us all."
What are the quarantine rules in other countries?
Depending on the destination, Brits will have to quarantine as soon as they land in a foreign country.
However, some countries are not enforcing this – Portugal is allowing British tourists to enter the country without quarantine in and offering temperature checks instead and coronavirus tests instead.
Meanwhile, Spain has lifted their two-week quarantine, with British tourists welcomed back last week.
Italy has already welcomed Brits back earlier this month, without a mandatory quarantine, while Iceland and Austria offer coronavirus checks upon landing instead.
Some countries are debating "air bridges" which would allow quarantine-free travel between them both.
Greece and Portugal have suggested starting this with the UK, with the latter hoping to introduce them as soon as this month.
While they have not yet been confirmed, they could replace the quarantine within weeks as the prime minister looks into alternative measures to allow Brits to travel.
Which countries are exempt from 14-day quarantine?
Many countries and airports are asking for temperature checks instead of quarantines to encourage travellers to go abroad.
Another option is a quick 20-minute test being considered by UK ministers ahead of the summer holidays which could remove the need to quarantine.
At present, only countries within the Common Travel Area (CTA) are exempt from quarantine.
This will mean only journeys from Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are exempt from quarantine on arrival.
A very limited number of exemptions will be in place for freight workers, foreign officials and medical professionals.
Others exempt from quarantine – as listed on the the official government website – include border security staff, defence personnel and government diplomats
An expert has warned that the two-week quarantine on travellers coming into the UK will cost the economy £650million a week.
In a withering take-down, professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the policy has been introduced months too late to have any effect.
On the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning he blasted: “It’s useless and should go.”
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