Travellers arriving in the UK will be forced to quarantine for 14 days – but France and Ireland are exempt

TRAVELLERS will be forced to quarantine for 14 days when arriving in the UK – but not if you're coming from France or Ireland.

An official date has not been revealed for when the rules will come into force, but is expected to be implemented in the coming weeks.

The government has revealed that its new guidelines have been put in place to, "manage the risk of transmissions being reintroduced from abroad."

They said: "The Government will require all international arrivals not on a short list of exemptions to self-isolate in their accommodation for fourteen days on arrival into the UK.

Visitors will need to supply contact and accommodation information on arrival in the UK and will be "strongly encouraged" to download the NHS contact tracing app.

Anyone who can't demonstrate where they will be self-isolating will be put up in accommodation arranged by the government. 

They add: "All journeys within the Common Travel Area will also be exempt from these measures."

The Common Travel Area comprises of the UK, as well as Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

France is also exempt, following a joint statement from France's president Emmanuel Macron.

In the statement, No10 said: "No quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage; any measures on either side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner.

"A working group between the two governments will be set up to ensure this consultation throughout the coming weeks."

Ferry passengers and Eurostar passengers will also be included in this.

It is understood holidaymakers and travellers arriving into the country – including Brits – will risk a £1,000 fine or deportation if they are found to be breaking quarantine.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said the news would "add to the confusion" that Brit holidaymakers were facing.

He said: "The situation is chaotic: the guidance issued by the government against travelling abroad is indefinite, and yet some airlines and travel companies are selling flights and holidays due to depart within the next few weeks which carry no warning that they are unlikely to go ahead as planned.

"Airlines and holiday companies must now be given clear FCO guidance on what dates it is appropriate to sell flights and holidays for.

"The government must also urgently produce a plan to support the travel industry through this crisis, so carriers and holiday companies can comply with the law and refund consumers without fear of going bust.”

British Airways has warned that they may need to halt the return of their flights in July due to the new quarantine rules.

IAG boss Willie Walsh, who owns BA, said: "We had been planning to resume – on a pretty significant basis – our flying in July.

"I think we'd have to review that based on what the Prime Minister said yesterday."

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