Brits could be forced to take four weeks off for two week holiday under coronavirus quarantine rules
HOLIDAYMAKERS may have to take four weeks off for a two week break in the sun under new coronavirus rules.
All travellers arriving into the UK, including Brits, could be forced to self isolate for two weeks or face a £1,000 fine or deportation.
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Under the rules, passengers will have to give an address when arriving in the UK which will be where they will quarantine for two weeks.
This means that for a two week holiday Brits may have to take four weeks off work.
The new rules are expected to come into place from early June and won’t affect people coming to the UK from Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
An airline association has said this could “kill international travel” to and from the UK and cause “immeasurable” damage to the aviation industry and UK’s economy.
In a statement, Airlines UK, which represents all UK carriers, said: “Nobody is going to go on holiday if they’re not able to resume normal life for 14 days, and business travel would be severely restricted.
"It will also make it all but impossible for aviation to resume any time soon, thereby setting back the UK’s economic recovery still further.”
What are the rules about going on holiday at the moment?
Most employees who work a five day week must have at least 28 days’ paid holiday a year under current government rules.
This is around 5.6 weeks of holiday.
Part-time workers are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday, depending on how many days they work.
So, if you work three days a week, you must get at least 16.8 days’ leave a year.
To work out how much holiday you’re entitled to, there is a holiday tool calculator on the government’s website.
What happens if I don’t use them?
Most holiday days can’t be banked if you don’t use them and you can’t carry them over.
Companies can also face penalties if they don’t ensure you take your holiday.
How has this changed under lockdown?
At the end of March, the government said it was relaxing rules around carrying holidays over after a demand in services from key workers, such as medical professionals, public service workers and supermarket staff.
Most people can now defer up to four weeks' unused leave to the following two leave years.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said at the time: “Whether it is in our hospitals, or our supermarkets, people are working around the clock to help our country deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
“Today’s changes will mean these valued employees do not lose out on the annual leave they are entitled to as a result of their efforts, and employers are not penalised.”
Does this mean I won’t get more than 28 days holiday under the new quarantine rules?
It’s not clear how this will affect holiday entitlement, the Prime Minister may address this in his speech tomorrow evening.
Once the details are announced, we will update this story.
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What if I'm working?
Lorry drivers bringing in essential supplies to the UK won’t be included in the two week scheme. Other industries have not been addressed yet.
How long will this go on for?
It’s not clear how long this will go on for yet. Once the government has outlined it, we will update this story.
While airline travel has dropped since the UK entered lockdown in March, flights have still been taking place.
Around 15,000 passengers a day arrived in the UK last month.
On Wednesday this week there were 714 flights in and out, the highest number for a single day since the lockdown was imposed.
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The news comes as Brits have had troubles trying to get refunds for their holidays after the outbreak.
We’ve compiled a guide on how to get a refund on your holiday if it gets cancelled.
Holidaymakers who are rescheduling their trips are meanwhile being told to make sure their travel insurance covers rebookings.