Priti Patel lashed out today at social media influencers who boasted about breaking the travel ban. She cited those individuals who turned up at St Pancras Eurostar terminal with their skis, a situation which was “clearly not acceptable”.
she told MPs:
We see plenty of influencers on social media showing off about which parts of the world they are in, mainly in sunny parts of the world. Going on holiday is not an exemption and it’s important that people stay at home
It is illegal for Britons to travel during the lockdown and anyone wishing to travel must have an exceptional reason and will have to fill in a declaration form stating their reason. Ms Patel said:
Going on holiday is not a valid reason to travel
She made it clear that anyone attempting to go on holiday will be sent home at the border and be fined £200. She emphasised that this crackdown is in place to stop the spread of new Covid-19 strains.
There will be exemptions but only for the “most important and exceptional reasons,” said the Home Secretary. Reasons include a medical emergency or a bereavement.
A Government official asked:
Do you absolutely have to travel to New York for business or can it be done over Zoom? Or will that multi-million pound deal fall through if you are not there?
Some 15,000 people a day are currently entering the UK with all being checked from this week by Border Force. Airlines must ensure passengers have negative Covid-19 tests within 72 hours of departure and that locator forms are filled in for quarantine.
The airlines will have the responsibility for implementing outgoing checks and face potential £2,000 fines if they fail to do so. Extra police will be at airports and ports who will conduct on-the-spot checks on people’s reasons for travel.
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