Families who return from holiday to an amber list destination can expect a visit at home from government officials, according to reports quoting the home secretary.
Priti Patel told the Daily Mail travellers should expect a ‘knock on the door’ when they return from abroad and that enforcement was being stepped up to make sure travellers returning from amber list countries “such as France, Spain and Italy” comply with the 10-day home self-isolation rule.
The Department for Transport’s traffic light system dictates restrictions for travellers returning to the UK – but is separate to Foreign Office (FCDO) travel advice, which package holiday operators use as guidance for whether holidays should go ahead. The lists do not align.
Five Greek islands, the Canary Islands and Malta are among the destinations exempt from a blanket FCDO advisory against all non-essential travel but remain on the amber traffic light list, meaning holidaymakers returning from the destinations must self-isolate at home for 10 days.
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Italy, France and mainland Spain do not have FCDO exemptions, meaning operators are not putting on package holidays to those destinations.
Last night, health secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street briefing that 30,000 home visits were conducted last week, and the Mail reports that officials have the capacity to carry out 10,000 home visits a day.
Those who do not obey the rule risk a fine of up to £10,000 – although the Mail reported “few have been levied so far”.
When asked whether holidaymakers returning from amber list countries should expect a ‘knock on the door’ when they got home, she replied: “Yes, people should. There is a service, provision is in place, capacity has been increased for that very reason. People will not go unchecked.
“Significant resources have been put in place – millions of pounds – in terms of the follow-up checking of people around their testing and making sure they stay at home. It has been stepped up.”
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