Oh bollocks, I'm really nervous about my holiday now!

[stopitkenneth]

We're due to head to a French campsite in four weeks (driving all the way). We've cancelled two holidays due to COVID, Malta at Easter and Mellorca now. We decided a couple of weeks ago that we'd try for France as quarantine had lifted and I was able to get comprehensive insurance.
But now I'm really worried about needing to quarantine when we get back!

I know, I know, booking anything now was optimistic and a bit stupid. But we really REALLY want to get away (I'm frontline NHS,I need a bloody holiday). And it's hard to see how rates in France could be worse than what we've got here.

At no point have my workplace says that we shouldn't be booking holidays abroad. So if I do have to quarantine on my return, then I'm hoping they'll either support me to work from home, or I'm happy to take the two weeks unpaid. I'm hoping that because I booked it during the time that there was no quarantine, they can't come down hard on me. But I'm now really worried.
Argh!

But if they did that they'd have to let people go home - they couldn't make them leave their accommodation and then ban them from leaving the area.

Of course!

KingFredsTache

We have international students at the local boarding school who weren’t able to get home to multiple countries and were stuck here throughout lockdown. Transport was running but they couldn’t get on it as everyone desperately tried to repatriate. There was a lady on the radio this morning who has been trying to get back from Kuwait since the beginning of June and only arrived on 18th July. Not France, obviously, but there could be travel issues just about anywhere.
I suppose my (very badly made ) point is that in uncertain times, you just don’t know. The authorities could well decide to close the tunnel this time, especially if our Government introduces a quarantine requirement in respect of France and their government, peed off as is the Spanish Govt. now, decides to flounce and shut the tunnel to British travellers.
If we do get the much touted second wave (is the first actually over yet?), I suspect restrictions may be harder and faster than the first time.
We can’t risk being stuck anywhere so travel is out for at least a year for us.

@itsaratrap

KingFredsTache

We have international students at the local boarding school who weren’t able to get home to multiple countries and were stuck here throughout lockdown. Transport was running but they couldn’t get on it as everyone desperately tried to repatriate. There was a lady on the radio this morning who has been trying to get back from Kuwait since the beginning of June and only arrived on 18th July. Not France, obviously, but there could be travel issues just about anywhere.
I suppose my (very badly made ) point is that in uncertain times, you just don’t know. The authorities could well decide to close the tunnel this time, especially if our Government introduces a quarantine requirement in respect of France and their government, peed off as is the Spanish Govt. now, decides to flounce and shut the tunnel to British travellers.
If we do get the much touted second wave (is the first actually over yet?), I suspect restrictions may be harder and faster than the first time.
We can’t risk being stuck anywhere so travel is out for at least a year for us.

Yes, I know people have had problems getting home from further afield, I know a couple who were stuck in Florida for weeks - luckily they are retired and living the life of Riley so it didn't matter too much!

But I think the chances of there being a complete lockdown in France that happens so quickly that all planes from France to the UK are grounded, all ferries are stopped, tunnel is shut completely and you can't even leave the area, before you have even realised what is happening, is vanishingly small. Also, the French PM already ruled out another nationwide lockdown whatever happens anyway.

I do know what you mean though it is a risk to travel anywhere really at the moment, and whilst I wouldn't judge anyone for going while it's all still open, I wouldn't think anyone ridiculous or paranoid for not wanting to travel anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Also last time airlines cancelled flights or bumped people off them, so folks were left having to buy new flights- often at great expense.
Insurance might cover the cost of the cancelled flight if the airline didn't provide a voucher, but would be extremely unlikely to pay for replacement flights.

Ferries and Eurotunnel might remain open, but unless you have an open return then demand would be likely to make fares spiral cost wise.

It's the potential costs that put me off traveling abroad, oh and any impact on DS actually getting back to school.

(I'm frontline NHS,I need a bloody holiday).

I'm hoping they'll either support me to work from home

What ‘front line’ NHS job can be done from home?

But I think the chances of there being a complete lockdown in France that happens so quickly that all planes from France to the UK are grounded, all ferries are stopped, tunnel is shut completely and you can't even leave the area, before you have even realised what is happening, is vanishingly small

Tell that to the tourists trying to get home from Spain.

jas We had the most extraordinary and lovely welcome from Cornwall, they were genuinely delighted to see us, and will need every penny to get through the winter.
I am not sure why we have even endured all the travelling all over europe and sweating it out in some barbaric heatwaves when such loveliness is on the doorstep!

What ‘front line’ NHS job can be done from home?
Well my DS recently had a telephone asthma check up with the nurse, and previously I had a doctors appointment online via video, so it’s not that impossible to believe....

squid well both the doctor and asthma nurse are based in the surgery not at home you can't leave the house, not even for shopping during a quarantine period of fourteen days, so going to work in a surgery is not going to happen is it!!

Ds respiratory physio was certainly working from home during our recently video appointments.

It is possible for virtual appointments to be done from home

^*
Tell that to the tourists trying to get home from Spain*^

But tourists in Spain CAN get home. Most airlines have told their customers that they can continue with their holiday and come home in the same return flight as booked.
Some trying to get home early may struggle obviously m, as there wouldn't be enough spaces on flights potentially. Spain isn't on lockdown currently - some areas are on local restrictions but it isn't country wide. It's the air bridge that has closed, not the country itself.

Even at the very start of the big lockdowns people were generally able to get home.

Madbirdlady - I intend to be back at work. That isn't even an option anyway. However, I'm still likes to have greater risk at school than I will have on this holiday due to lack of social distancing, masks and the fact that my role involves going into all bubbles during the week.

I'm also only in Paris for two half days, mainly to sleep. It's simply so we can catch the Eurostar - again with social distancing, anti bac, masks, etc.

But they're not front line if they are being done from home. Important, yes, but not front line

Normal is not a priority at the moment, keeping people alive is the priority.

Going to Cornwall isn't risk free. Going on holiday isn't risk free. In many areas of the U.K. it is more of a risk than some of the areas being visited in Europe.

We can't pretend that England is a safer destination than many other countries. It simply isn't the case. Your holiday to Cornwall also increases the risk of transmission to yourself and to others. You can't pretend otherwise. You can tell yourself you're protecting your family by refusing to see anyone who's been abroad but really you need to extend that to anyone who has been out shopping, to a restaurant or bar, to a tourist attraction, etc.

At some point we have to move towards some for of normality, and that means going shopping, eating out, leaving our own towns, seeing family and friends. The government are now actively encouraging us to start returning to a 'new' normal with masks, SDing and increased hygiene measures.

aragog We have work colleagues in Spain who can not get a flight back from Spain, and indeed their return flight has not been confirmed yet either.
They have decided to come home early, as the quarantine requirement will compromise their work commitment ( The need for quarantine was not in place when they flew out) they have to factor in an extra two weeks at home now, and given the company is already looking to make cut backs and to make some of the team redundant their fears are not unfounded.

I do NOT consider Paris to be low risk ara and I am not sure your doctor or school would think so either!

At some point we have to move towards some for of normality, and that means going shopping, eating out, leaving our own towns, seeing family and friends

Until we have an effective vaccine or treatment for Covid, some of that will have to wait unfortunately.

You CAN see family and friends in a socially distant manner, especially if you meet up in small groups outside and wait a week or so before seeing another group of family or friends.

@madbirdlady22 @dorthopa

I wasn't being serious but i was pointing out your hypocrisy, you are more than happy to go (and encourage others to come here) from higher rate R areas in the UK to low ones such as Cornwall, mix with people from all over the UK and then go back to wherever....... because you can and you need a holiday.... but someone going to europe and doing pretty much the same thing, is the devils spawn and deserves all they get.
Dorthopa your concern on protecting the economy of Cornwall doesn't seem to extend to those who work for EJ or Hays Travel?

jas My area has had zero infections since the end of May! And is lower risk than even Cornwall!! So that is a massive and incorrect assumption you have just made, but hey don't let the facts stop you.
Spain is now riddled with covid, so it is hardly comparable to Cornwall is it!!

Madlady Its not ALL about you!!! so, whilst on hols you come into contact with a family from the N.W where infection rates are very much higher, not only are they risking our health down here, you could catch CV and bring it back to your home town.

Plus given asymptomatic transmission, you ve no real idea of your localities CV rate.

All holidays carry risk & to be perfectly honest, given you are so against foreign travel, are an unnecessary luxury during a Pandemic.

At some point we have to move towards some for of normality, and that means going shopping, eating out, leaving our own towns, seeing family and friends

Until we have an effective vaccine or treatment for Covid, some of that will have to wait unfortunately.

But all of those things are allowed under current rules?

Madbirdlady - that's tricky. Fortunately the people I know in Spain are all able to return on their normal flight. One man returned early as he needed to attend something important within the 14 day quarantine.

What happens if their is no vaccine?

All of the things I listen are ones we are currently allowed to do, and that includes going on holiday either in the U.K. or various places abroad. We need to be cautious and take a mask and anti bac, and we need to maintain SDing where possible too. But we are allowed to do these things now.

People have sacrificed so much with lockdown - and it was a necessary precaution. But we are now being told to venture out and enjoy the summer again.

And as said before, if I'm deemed safe enough by the Government to be in 10 different classrooms, mixing with 270 children and numerous staff, with no masks and no SD then I'm Sure my holiday where j do have precautions in place is probably safe enough too.

@Squidsister

At some point we have to move towards some for of normality, and that means going shopping, eating out, leaving our own towns, seeing family and friends

Until we have an effective vaccine or treatment for Covid, some of that will have to wait unfortunately.

But all of those things are allowed under current rules?

You’ve selectively quoted.

The poster went on to say that you can do those things in a safer way. Which is true. Why can’t people exercise any common sense?

I have to say I find it intensely irritating when people tie themselves in knots justifying the things that they have done, because its OK when they do it because that's what works for them, whilst self righteously and sanctimoniously criticising anyone who has made a different choice to them.

I have seen a lot of it over the last few months and here it is again on this thread.

If the government orders you to quarantine then you will have to do so, work will be forced to put you on some kind of sick leave. They could just do statutory sick pay but I would be almost entirely sure the NHS would do full sick pay.

I say go on holiday, all you can do is follow the rules and guidelines the government are giving and at the minute there is no travel restrictions.