Holiday dreams lie in tatters

Sturgeon warns Scots not to book trips abroad amid virus resurgence

FAMILIES have been warned not to book foreign holidays amid fears of a ‘worrying’ rise in Covid-19 cases in parts of Europe.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said she was ‘increasingly concerned’ about the risk of coronavirus amid signs of a resurgence in countries including Spain, Belgium, Germany and France.

She said those travelling abroad could not assume their destination would not be added to the list of countries where a 14-day quarantine is required when they return.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also suggested new controls on travel to Spain might have to be extended to other nations.

And the head of Germany’s disease control agency admitted he was ‘very worried’ over a rapid rise in cases there.

The Scottish Government lifted the requirement for those returning from Spain to go into quarantine at the beginning of last week, only to reimpose it five days later following a spike in cases.

Miss Sturgeon admitted similar changes might be required at short notice for other countries.

She said: ‘I continue to say to people – and I take no pleasure in saying this because of the impact on individuals and the impact on industries that are very important to Scotland – but right now, be very, very cautious about booking foreign travel that is not essential.

‘Because you don’t know that when you’re in a country they may change their regulations and you might find yourself restricted. And when you go to come home, you might find the quarantine rules have changed here.

‘I wouldn’t, if you were asking me, be booking a foreign holiday right now because of these reasons.

‘I would be choosing, if I had the time to go on holiday, to spend it here in Scotland.’

She said that, although cases in Scotland remain low, she is ‘highly concerned’ about the Covid risk. She added: ‘We are currently seeing a worrying resurgence of Covid cases – not just in faraway parts of the world but also in several countries across Europe right now.’

Miss Sturgeon added: ‘There are countries that a couple of weeks ago I would not have expected to be seeing a resurgence in cases but we are right now. And there will be countries right now that look as if – possibly even our own – they could be in this position where things look really stable and lowlevel right now but a week or so from now might look very different. That is in the nature of a virus.

‘Any country could change at very short notice.’

In a gloomy prognosis yesterday, Mr Johnson said: ‘I’m afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic.

‘I’m afraid if we do see signs of a second wave in other countries, it is really our job, our duty, to act swiftly and decisively to stop travellers coming back from those countries seeding the disease here in the UK.’ He added: ‘We will take

‘Be cautious about foreign travel’ ‘It is our job, our duty, to act swiftly’

action throughout the summer, where it is necessary.’

But the UK’s second biggest package holiday firm, Jet2, last night criticised the UK Government’s handling of the crisis and accused ministers of sowing confusion.

The firm, which has been forced to cancel holidays and flights, said: ‘The information we are receiving is contradictory and often comes with little or no notice.’

Thousands of Scots flew to Spain in the five days between the Scottish Government lifting the quarantine requirement and then reimposing it.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: ‘To maintain public trust, the First Minister should publish the advice underpinning the decision to remove and then reinstate the quarantine for people who have travelled to Spain. This would offer much-needed clarity.’

Miss Sturgeon said the data behind the decision was held by the UK Government – and said she believed it should publish it.

It has been reported the UK Government is considering attempting to cut the number of days people have to quarantine by testing them eight days after they return. Miss Sturgeon remains ‘open-minded’.

However, Dr Nicola Steedman, Scotland’s deputy chief medical officer, said the earliest someone could reliably be tested in order to catch the ‘majority’ of cases would be day eight after their return to the country.