Going camping or to holiday homes is NOT essential travel: Government upgrades official coronavirus advice after stream of people risk spread by leaving cities
- Government has issued updated travel advice relating to domestic travel in UK
- It states that people should not go and visit second homes or holiday premises
- Also prohibits going to campsites, caravan parks either for holiday or isolation
- Comes amid reports wealthy home owners in cities are heading for countryside
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Ministers have told people not to visit second homes or holiday homes during the coronavirus outbreak, warning doing so places an unnecessary strain on rural communities.
The updated domestic travel advice issued by the government late last night also applies to campsites and caravan parks.
The government said going to such places either for self-isolation or for a holiday does not count as essential travel and is therefore against official advice.
Everyone in the UK has been told to avoid all non-essential travel and social contact for the foreseeable future.
But many people across the nation have flaunted the social contact guidance with Boris Johnson now considering whether or not to impose more draconian measures which could see the rules being legally enforced.
Boris Johnson said yesterday the government could toughen social distancing rules if people refuse to comply as ministers urged people not to visit second homes, holiday homes or campsites
The update domestic travel advice was issued after a weekend which saw people flaunt the advice telling them to stay at home. Pictured is a packed Snowdon in Wales on Saturday
It comes after widespread footage of people visiting tourist hot spots and markets across the country at the weekend amid fears many are not taking the threat of the deadly disease seriously enough.
The cross-government UK travel advice issued last night states that ‘people should avoid travelling unless it is essential’ in order to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
It warns of the potential impact second home owners or holiday home owners could have on vital rural services if they leave their primary residence and head for the countryside.
It states: ‘This guidance is for people planning to visit second homes or holiday premises during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
‘Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays.
‘People should remain in their primary residence. Not taking these steps puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk.’
The government has already advised against ‘all but essential international travel’ as countries around the world respond to the crisis.
As of yesterday there were 5,683 identified cases of coronavirus in the UK and the death toll stands at 281.
Mr Johnson yesterday delivered a warning to the UK that unless everybody takes the government’s social distancing guidance seriously ministers will be forced to go further.
Speaking at his daily coronavirus press conference in 10 Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: ‘You’ve got to observe social distancing.
‘If people can’t do that, won’t do that, don’t do that, we will of course have to bring in tougher measures.’
He added: ‘I don’t think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very, very actively in the next 24 hours.’
The potential toughening of the measures could involve the UK following the lead of France, Spain and Italy where people are only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons. Those who refuse to comply are hit with fines.
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