This is where you could go on holiday this summer without having to quarantine
12:48, 27 June 2020
updated: 09:12, 28 June 2020
Summer holidays are back on the cards as a Government rule, requiring people to quarantine for two weeks after travelling to another country, will be scrapped for a number of popular destinations.
This has left many excited to book a last minute get-away, as their lives will no longer be put on hold when they get back from certain trips.
So if you're planning a break in the sun, what do you need to know and where can you go?
The Government confirmed it will revise quarantine measures with a new traffic light system in place.
Countries will be placed into green, amber and red categories based on how many coronavirus cases there are and the trajectory of the disease.
If you are travelling from a country in the low risk green or amber categories then you will not need to self-isolate for 14 days, when coming back to the UK.
A full list of those countries will be announced next week but is likely to include France, Greece and Spain.
The Telegraph reported that as many as 50 countries could be included in the quarantine-free list when it is published on Monday, with restrictions lifted as soon as July 6.
If you are travelling from a country in the red category then you will still need to self-isolate.
No matter which country passengers are coming from, they still have to provide Border Force with the address they plan on residing at, upon returning.
Are the categories fixed?
No. Ministers have warned countries could fall into the unsafe category if there are sudden outbreaks.
This means holidaymakers could return to find unexpectedlydley have to cancel plans and lock themselves away.
A Government spokesperson said: “Our public health measures at the border were put in place to manage the risk of imported cases and help prevent a second wave of the virus, and will continue to support our fight against coronavirus.
"Our new risk-assessment system will enable us to carefully open a number of safe travel routes around the world - giving people the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad and boosting the UK economy through tourism and business.
"But we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if any risks re-emerge, and this system will enable us to take swift action to re-introduce self-isolation measures if new outbreaks occur overseas.”
What has the reaction been in Kent?
John Keefe, director of public affairs at Eurotunnel, which runs from Folkestone to Calais, said that from July 6, the company would run four departures an hour during peak times. During the pandemic it has been running a reduced service, with one passenger shuttle per hour.
Staff have been back bought back from furlough to take calls from customers wanting to book tickets since yesterday evening's announcement, with the phones "ringing off the hook".
Mr Keefe said: "Don't worry if can't get through on the first call, that will filter out. You could see the pressure was building, people really wanted to get away. I think that was obvious from the pictures of people on beaches in Britain."
Many use the Eurotunnel to get to France and travel to other countries such as Germany.
Mr Keefe said car is a "really lovely safe way to travel" as the environment can be controlled, and when on the Eurotunnel, passengers do not have to get out of their vehicle or mingle with strangers.
"You can't have a better way to travel in this moment when you're absolutely sure of the environment you're in," he said.
For those who do want to stretch their legs, their will be social distancing in place in the terminal and hand sanitiser.
There will be health protection measures for staff, who will be wearing masks when in confined spaces.
Chris Scoble, from the Go Scoble travel agency in Tunbridge Wells, welcomed the news, but said the travel industry had been "bought to its knees" and the full impact would be clear over the next few months and years.
Mr Scoble said: "We have been waiting for this for a long time. This announcement was interesting as we didn't know they were going to put a green, amber and red assessment risk on countries. It's welcome but we are still waiting for the actual destinations to be published."
"We have had a massive up turn on enquiries at the moment, we are constantly inundated so I think there's going to be huge demand when the Government makes its announcement."
"The industry is on its knees, in the months and years to come we will find out exactly what damage has been done to the industry, but it has been incredibly frustrating, but understandable in the first couple of months. We now need to get people holidaying again."
Asked what advice he had for those worried about going on holiday because of coronavirus, he said: "If you are uneasy or unsure about it I wouldn't bother going. If you are happy to be in the fresh air in a clean and well organised hotel, definitely go and book a holiday."
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