Tough new rules for travellers to Britain

HOME Secretary Priti Patel’s announcement yesterday that all UK arrivals will have to isolate for 14 days means Britain will have one of the toughest border entry requirements in the world from June 8.

Travellers will have to submit the address they will be staying at on arrival at airports and ports. And the police will be given far-reaching powers to check homes and issue £1,000 fines to anyone who flouts the rules.

Meanwhile, ministers are looking again at the idea of so-called “air bridges” – bilateral travel agreements with countries that have a similar Covid-19 infection rate to the UK.

It has raised hopes that families will be able to enjoy a holiday, albeit socially distanced, before summer ends.

Borders

However the United States, Canada and South America all remain largely closed to tourists, but Florida Keys and some parts of Mexico, including the hotspot Cancun, have announced plans to reopen on June 1.

France’s borders are due to reopen, initially with Switzerland and Germany, from June 15.

No date has been announced for borders reopening to nonessential travel by UK nationals. Travellers will need to provide a health certificate confirming they do not have coronavirus, or be subjected to 14 days of self-isolation on entry.

In Spain no date has been set for borders reopening to travel by UK nationals.

Greece is planning to open to tourists on July 1 – but international travellers must arrive through Athens and be subject to screening.

In Turkey international tourism will return by mid-June.