CORONAVIRUS Q&A

Nick Trend, The Daily Telegraph Travel’s Chief Consumer and Culture Editor, answers your questions about how the coronavirus pandemic will affect your travel plans.

Andrew Linell, via email

QI’ve recently returned from a holiday in St Lucia. Should I self-isolate?

AThere is no specific advice for travellers returning to the UK without symptoms, so you should remain at home and stick to the current guidelines on social distancing.

David Norris, via email

Q My wife lives in south-western France. Can I drive there to see her?

AAs I understand it, you would have a hard time justifying this unless she were ill. It would be against government guidelines to leave the country and against rules on driving within the UK. You also might face questions by the police. Eurotunnel, which is offering a limited service, is defining travel to France as essential only for those whose main residence is there or for work reasons.

Christopher Carpenter, via email

Q I have a holiday to Cyprus booked for the middle of August. Will I be able to travel?

AThere is a good chance you will be able to travel, assuming the virus is under control both here and in Cyprus. Certainly, you shouldn’t think about cancelling until much nearer the time, or you risk losing money.

Phil Howarth, via email

Q We have a holiday booked to Tenerife later this month and are unable to cancel. Why is this?

AThis the Foreign is because, and Commonwealth until this weekend Office (FCO) had only advised against travel overseas until Apr 15. Operators weren’t cancelling holidays beyond that because there was no legal requirement to do so and they were also busy dealing with earlier trips. The FCO has extended its advice and I’m sure Tui will focus on cancellations beyond Apr 21 very soon.

Kara Betton, via email

Q When will we be able to start travelling abroad again?

AThe Government extended the ban indefinitely over the weekend. It is advising against all but essential travel with no end date. Clearly, the FCO will, at some point, lift its advisory for some destinations at least. But it is not clear how much notice it will give, nor how tour operators and travellers should deal with plans which have already been made for, say May, June or July. Ryanair says that it is not expecting to increase flights significantly until June.

Monday to Friday, experts are answering your questions about the coronavirus crisis at telegraph.co.uk. Send your questions on science to The Telegraph’s Science Editor Sarah Knapton by midday today using yourstory@telegraph.co.uk