Originally Posted by
Playamar2
LTNMan. The initial plan was that Ireland would be exempt then France was added. Then France wasn't exempt and now quite a few more countries would be exempt. The Gov't are changing the goal posts so often they will probably change again before implementation. With Spain there was no messing about and no country was exempt. I agree other countries may ask UK travellers to quarantine if our rate of infection is high, in a tit for tat response and the UK Government could have no complaints,
Regarding Ireland, I heard over the weekend that it isn't as clear cut as has been portrayed, and that arrival by air from the Irish Republic to mainland UK will be subject to 14 days quarantine, and it's only not applicable to arrivals across the land border. If so this is blatant nonsense; either arrivals from the RoI are, or are not safe. If they aren't safe then the RoI / NI border should be controlled and those crossing into NI from the RoI put into quarantine. If it is safe, then quarantine shouldn't apply for air arrival to mainland UK - one or the other, otherwise this is little less than playing politics.
The reality is that HMG are already softening what is, as Michael O'Leary said yesterday, a totally unworkable system since we don't have a UK equivalent of the STASI following people's movements, and the regular police simply don't have the manpower to go knocking on doors, let alone forcing entry without a search warrant to check who is, or isn't at home. The concept that travel between some countries may quarantine-free, as their infection rates are acceptably low opens the door for significant backtracking, and with pressure from the travel and tourism industries may well allow holidays to the Med., Adriatic and central Europe, as well as inbound tourism from the likes of China. What will be interesting to watch is if a "political decision" were to be made prematurely to lift quarantine on US arrival, under pressure from the Trump administration, and the UK putting the interests of "the greatest ever trade deal" ahead of public safety.
The prospects for leisure travel for the high season for the likes of Jet2 and TUI probably look a little brighter.