Is YOUR summer holiday in danger of being ruined by Covid? Cases soar in France, Greece, Italy and Spain... as one expert says he's already CANCELLED his break
- Spain, France and Germany are logging a rise in infections, while cases in Caribbean hotspots creeping up
- Travellers no longer need to prove they're Covid-free and destinations have ushered in post pandemic era
- But some health chiefs have called for a return of masks and self-isolation is still required in some countries
Covid cases are on the rise in some of the UK's favourite holiday hotspots, raising concerns of yet more travel chaos for millions this summer.
Spain,
France and
Germany are all currently logging a rise in infections, while outbreaks are growing bigger in popular Caribbean islands.
Sunseekers no longer need to prove they're Covid-free and vaccinated to be allowed into many of the country's best-loved destinations, who have followed Britain's lead in ushering in the post-pandemic era.
Yet health chiefs on the continent — who are alarmed about the resurgence — have already called for a return of masks.
Experts told MailOnline travellers could easily face restrictions in their destination this summer, if officials feel the rise warrants action over the coming weeks. One revealed he had already cancelled his holiday break to Spain over concerns about rising cases, and was instead planning a camping trip within the UK.
Others warned Britain could be cut-off from international holidays if cases continue to surge. Lib Dem MP Layla Moran said that countries might feel the need to 'reintroduce restrictions on arrivals from Britain'.
Ms Moran told the Mirror that it is 'possible that holiday plans will be ruined due to rising Covid rates in the UK'.
She said: 'Other countries could reintroduce restrictions on arrivals from Britain and transport companies, already in crisis from the Government's mishandling of Brexit and industrial action, are likely to see an increase in staff shortages with more people off sick with the virus and long Covid.'
Professor Martin McKee, president at the British Medical Association (BMA), told MailOnline that holidaymakers face a summer of uncertainty.
He said: 'We can look at infection levels now but that doesn't tell us where they will be when we actually travel.
'Nor does it tell us whether it has hit the people who fly us to our destination or handle our bags.'
Professor McKee added: 'We're not out of the woods yet.'
However, Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that discrepancies between how nations test means differences in Covid rates are difficult to compare.
But he said he doesn't expect nations — many of which are reliant on tourism, a sector which has been largely crippled by economically-damaging restrictions used during the pandemic — to bring in a swathe of curbs.
Professor Hunter said: 'I really don't which — if any — holiday destinations will change the rules. I doubt many holiday destination countries will make existing rules more restrictive.'
However, he noted that 'there is an issue about staffing of airports and airlines if many staff are testing positive and so off work'.
When cases soared to pandemic highs in April, thousands of airport workers took time off ill, fuelling chaotic scenes in Heathrow and Birmingham airports.
Outbreaks across Europe are being fuelled by Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, which are thought to be even more infectious than the BA.2 strain that caused infections in the UK to spiral to a record 4.1million in April.
The two newer sub-strains have caused cases in England to more than double in the last month. Data from the Office for National Statistics show 1.8million people were infected in the week to June 24 — rising by a third in a week and marking the highest rate in two months.
Ms Moran told the Mirror that it is 'possible that holiday plans will be ruined due to rising Covid rates in the UK'.
She said: 'Other countries could reintroduce restrictions on arrivals from Britain and transport companies, already in crisis from the Government's mishandling of Brexit and industrial action, are likely to see an increase in staff shortages with more people off sick with the virus and long Covid.'
Dr David Strain, a senior clinical lecturer at Exeter University, told MailOnline that uncertainty around whether restrictions will be brought in destinations, some nations requiring masks and the risk of catching Covid on the plane or on holiday will leave Britons weighing up whether jetting abroad is worth it.
He has already scrapped his villa holiday in Spain for a UK camping staycation over concerns about the virus would wreak havoc on his travels.
Dr Strain warned that around one in 20 people will be infected as they get on a flight and up to five in 20 could be carrying the virus when they land — which could scupper holiday plans.
He urged Britons to consider whether there will be Covid restriction when they arrive at their destination and questioned whether that is a holiday people really want.
