Angela Merkel calls on EU nations to force UK travellers to quarantine

Make Britons isolate! Angela Merkel calls on EU nations to force UK travellers to quarantine because of high levels of Indian Covid variant

  • German Chancellor urged EU nations to require travellers coming from countries with high Delta variant prevalence – such as Britain – to quarantine
  • Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless, with some exceptions
  • Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for UK arrivals

Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers’ plans to reopen foreign travel.

The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine.

Mrs Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament: ‘In our country, if you come from Great Britain you have to go into quarantine – and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see.’

Angela Merkel yesterday called on other European countries to force UK travellers to quarantine on arrival in a major threat to ministers’ plans to reopen foreign travel. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the Second Berlin Conference on Libya, in Berlin, Germany on June 23, 2021

Berlin has banned travellers from Britain entering unless they are a German citizen, have residency rights or if there is an ‘urgent humanitarian reason’ like a family death.

But those allowed in still have to register to get permission to visit and quarantine for two weeks with no option for early release after a negative test.

It comes after Italy reintroduced quarantine and testing requirements for all UK arrivals amid growing concerns in Europe about the spread of the Indian, or Delta, variant, now dominant in the UK.

Health minister Roberto Speranza said on Friday that Italy will require all travellers from Britain to quarantine for five days upon arrival.

A negative test is required at the end of the five-day period. America currently still bans UK tourists amid the surge in Delta cases. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s top infectious diseases expert, last week suggested that UK-US travel would only reopen in September as a result.

Mrs Merkel’s call came ahead of the Government today being expected to announce plans for fully vaccinated Britons to be able to visit amber countries without having to self-isolate for ten days on return.

The German Chancellor said she would like other European nations to require travellers from countries with a high prevalence of the Indian variant, like Britain, to go into quarantine

It is expected to take effect in August, although some ministers are pushing for this to be brought forward to July 19. The move will effectively turn destinations that are amber into green for fully vaccinated people.

But if other European countries listen to Mrs Merkel’s call then UK holidaymakers’ options could be limited even further this summer.

Portugal, Spain and Greece are still allowing UK holidaymakers to visit with proof of a negative test and no quarantine. France is also allowing in fully vaccinated Britons with a negative test.

But European health officials say further action is needed to curb the spread of the Delta variant as it gains a hold on the Continent. 

This month it accounted for 70 per cent of sequenced cases in the greater Lisbon region of Portugal, more than 20 per cent in Italy and about 16 per cent in Belgium. It has also been detected in clusters in Germany, France and Spain. 

Let us fly again! Furious pilots march on Westminster 

Hundreds of travel workers including pilots and business owners marched on Westminster yesterday to demand that ministers ease restrictions threatening the industry.

They called on the Prime Minister to expand the quarantine-free travel green list at today’s review and make it easier for fully-vaccinated Britons to go on holiday. They warned huge numbers of jobs are at risk and called for the furlough scheme to be extended beyond September if current restrictions continue.

Pilots and cabin crew who have been grounded for over a year were joined by travel business owners who told of being on the brink.

Hundreds of travel workers including pilots and business owners marched on Westminster yesterday to demand that ministers ease restrictions threatening the industry (pictured)

Around 400 protesters gathered outside the Commons as part of a Travel Day Of Action. Demonstrations were also held outside Holyrood and Stormont to lobby the Scottish and Northern Ireland governments and at airports including Bristol and Manchester.

Senior Tory MPs joined the Westminster protest, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Graham Brady, former minister Steve Baker and transport committee chairman Huw Merriman, who called on ministers to use the success of the vaccine rollout to reboot international travel. 

Pictured: Virgin Air Crew at a protest outside the Houses of Parliament where the travel industry is protesting to MPs showing they are not happy about continued travel restrictions

Richard Mann, 56, a pilot for travel giant Tui, said it was the biggest crisis the aviation industry had ever faced, stressing: ‘Everyone’s worried for their livelihoods.

‘If there was a clear reason for travel being shut down to the extent it is now, we would take that on the chin, but there just doesn’t seem to be.

‘Infection rates in the Balearic Islands and others are lower than we have here, so why are they shut off?

‘You see thousands packing themselves on to Bournemouth beach. Is that keeping people safe? It doesn’t make sense.’

Mark Tanzer, of travel industry group Abta, said some members had been forced to take new jobs as call centre workers and Amazon delivery drivers to make ends meet, adding: ‘It’s really heart-breaking.’

Sir Graham said ministers must ensure a ‘viable summer season’ is salvaged. He insisted: ‘There are over one million jobs at stake – as well as people’s freedom to see their family overseas or to go on holiday.’ Mr Merriman warned: ‘The sector is haemorrhaging jobs.’ 

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