After a tentatively hopeful week with the inclusion of the Canary Islands in the travel corridor list and the potential return of cruise lines to US waters, it was news which nobody wanted to hear this weekend.
In another body blow to the beleaguered travel & leisure sector, the PM announced on Saturday night that the country would be going into a 2nd Lockdown, with effect from this Thursday 5th November 2020.
Whilst the PM has yet to get his plans through Parliament, it is anticipated that the House of Commons will support the proposals which will be put forward this week. We don’t have all the details as yet on how this month long second lockdown will operate in practice, but here is what we do know so far, based on the current government guidance:
- All non-essential retail, include travel agents, will close, along with indoor and outdoor leisure facilities and entertainment venues;
- Everyone who can work effectively from home must do so;
- UK residents will need to avoid travelling in or out of their local area, except for essential travel and will be encouraged to reduce the number of journeys they make;
- Overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed. This ban will include holidays abroad as well as in the UK;
- If people do need to stay away from home for work purposes, they can do so. This includes international travel. However, the travel corridor list and any restrictions in respect of the specific destinations will still be applicable;
- Inbound travel to the UK will be permitted, subject to the restrictions and self-isolation requirements set out in the travel corridor list;
- The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will continue throughout the second lockdown, with workers paid at least 80% of their salary up to £2500 a month.
For the latest guidance, check the government advice
For more info:
We will update this information as the situation develops. In the meantime, if you require any legal assistance or advice, please do contact any of the team at advice@travlaw.co.uk or 01132 580033.
This article was originally published on: 2 November 2020
