How are holidaymakers returning from Spain meant to get home from the airport?

From midnight on July 26, anyone returning from Spain will have to self-isolate for two weeks.

All arrivals from the mainland, plus Canary and Balearic Islands, will need to stay at home for a fortnight in response to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the UK.

Holidaymakers coming home will need to provide contact details and face £1,000 fines for non-compliance (raising to £3,200 for more serious offences).

The Foreign Office is also advising against all but essential travel to mainland Spain.

This big development will have a big impact on many who were told it was safe to travel to Spain a matter of weeks ago.

It also raises an obvious practical question: How are people returning from Spain meant to get home from the airport?

The Government has published specific guidance on exactly how people should behave when they arrive home from countries like Spain.

Here is the advice in full.

“If you develop coronavirus symptoms when you’re travelling to the UK, you should tell one of the crew on your plane, boat, train or bus. They’ll let staff in the airport, port or station know, so they can tell you what you should do next when you arrive.

“When you arrive in the UK, go straight to the place you’re staying.

“Only use public transport if you have no other option. If you do use public transport, wear something that covers your nose and mouth and stay 2 metres apart from other people. Pack a face covering or scarf to cover your nose and mouth before you travel. If you have coronavirus symptoms, you will not be allowed to travel by public transport and will need to demonstrate that the accommodation where you will self-isolate is safe.

“If necessary, and you have a long journey within the UK to arrive at your self-isolation accommodation, you can stop overnight in safe accommodation before continuing your journey. You must self-isolate and provide the address of your overnight stop on your public health passenger locator form in addition to your declared accommodation address.”

You can see full Government isolation guidance here.

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