Britons face being banned from visiting America for MONTHS - Money

Top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said British holidaymakers could be banned for visiting America for months to come, or until a vaccine is found.

The current travel ban for UK tourists which has been in place since March 16 will likely be lifted in months rather than weeks, the senior virus expert said.

So far, more than 114,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, according to a Reuters tally. About half a dozen US states are grappling with a rising number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds.

Top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said British holidaymakers could be banned for visiting America for months, or until a vaccine is found

A TSA agent wearing a facemask at a deserted Los Angeles International Airport amid the coronavirus pandemic. Top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci said British holidaymakers could be banned for visiting America for months to come, or until a vaccine is found

A traveler wearing a protective mask exits from the United Airlines Holdings Inc. check-in counter at San Francisco International Airport

‘It’s going to be really wait and see. I don’t think there’s going to be an immediate pull back for those kinds of restrictions,’ Dr Fauci told The Telegraph.

‘My feeling, looking at what’s going on with the infection rate, I think it’s more likely measured in months rather than weeks.’

While Dr. Fauci said the US had been successful in squashing the outbreak in major cities including New York, Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans, several states trying to reopen are seeing ‘early indications [that] infections are higher than previously.’

Passengers arrive at London Heathrow Airport. The current travel ban for UK tourists to the US which has been in place since March 16 will likely be lifted in months rather than weeks,Dr. Fauci said

The strict new quarantine rules people face when entering Britain

What happen when you arrive in the UK?

All passengers arriving in the UK have to fill in a form before heading to Britain. This includes British nationals coming home, as well as foreign visitors. You must provide the address at which you will be staying in the UK – and self-isolate there. You will not be allowed to leave that address at all, or receive visitors, for 14 days.

How does it work?

Passengers will be able to complete ‘contact locator form’ on the Government’s website up to 48 hours before departure. There will be no paper versions of the form. Failing to complete the form before travelling is a crime, but there will be a short grace period and allow travellers to fill in the form electronically in the arrivals hall.

How will this be enforced?

There will be spot checks to ensure all passengers have completed a form. Border Force staff will interview people as they leave planes and at border checkpoints.

What happens if I refuse to fill in a contact locator form?

You will be given an on-the-spot £100 fine by Border Force officers.

What checks will take place during the 14-day period?

Public health officials will carry out random checks by telephone. If these raise doubts, police will visit the address, issuing a fine where necessary.

What happens if I leave the address I provide in the form?

In England, you will be issued with a £1,000 spot fine. You could even be prosecuted, and face an unlimited fine if convicted. The fine could increase beyond £1,000 if the ‘risk of infection from abroad increases’, the Home Office says. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have their own enforcement systems.

All 50 states have begun to reopen in some way after the coronavirus threw the country into lockdown starting in March, despite early warning signs that cases could again spike.

More than a dozen states, including Texas and Florida, have recently reported record daily infection rates.

Texas hit highs this week for hospitalizations and new Covid-19 cases, while allowing restaurants to expand eat-in dining Friday to 75% of capacity, up from 50%.

On the topic of mass protests across the country which were sparked at the end of last month over the death of George Floyd, Dr. Fauci said: ‘I would say in a perfect world people shouldn’t congregate in a crowd and demonstrate.

‘But I know, even though you say that, they are going to go do it. So, if you’re going to do it, don’t take the mask off when you’re chanting, and screaming, and yelling, and doing whatever at a demonstration.’

UK citizens have been barred from entering the US since March 16, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

There are some exceptions to the travel ban, including green card holders, those with specified close family members in the US, and certain other limited categories of visas holders such as UN staff and diplomats.

Those who are allowed entry to the US must be prepared to self-isolate for up to 14 days on arrival.

The travel ban has greatly restricted the roughly 3.8 million British nationals that visit the US every year.

The UK foreign office continues to advise British nationals against all but essential international travel, and those who return will have to quarantine for 14 days.

Europe will partially reopen on Monday allowing Britons to holiday abroad. In a move recommended by the European Commission (EC), border controls are to be lifted between Schengen member states from June 15.

Even though the UK doesn’t have an EU status, it is included on the lists which allow entry into several nations, the Telegraph reported.

Much of Europe will remain off-limits for US tourists in July due to the country’s high infection rate. America’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) continues to advise citizens against all but essential international travel and Americans returning to the US will have to follow the 14-day self-quarantine rule.

Some EU countries have chosen a different approach to opening their borders. For example, Italy opened its borders to EU nations and the UK on June 3.

Meanwhile Spain is imposing a 14-day quarantine on arrivals until July 1.

France is one of the countries set to open its borders to visitors from the EU and UK on Monday.

Spain is imposing a 14-day quarantine on arrivals until July 1. Pictured: Benidorm is preparing to open its beaches from Monday

The country has a voluntary self-isolation but its quarantine is not enforced with fines and is a request made to British visitors.

Benidorm, Spain, is also preparing to open its beach from Monday with a list of strict new guidelines imposed by the Mayor Toni Perez and its town hall.

Beach cordons segregating the over 70s and making one way entrances and exits to the sea are being put in place.

Who is reopening their borders on Monday?

Austria

From June 16 Austria will end its quarantine requirements for visitors from more than 20 European countries but the UK is not included on this list.

Sweden, Spain and Portgual are also not included.

Belgium

The government plan to reopen its borders to visitors from the EU, UK and Schengen members. Bars, restaurants and hotels resumed business on June 8 and markets, museums and zoos can open if they meet guidelines.

Croatia

Arrivals from the EU and UK into Croatia from June 15 are not required to self-isolate unless they have been in contact with someone who has coronavirus.

They will be given a leaflet with guidelines they must follow for the first 14 days of their trip.

Hotels, restaurants and beaches are all allowed to open if they have health and safety guidelines in place.

France

France didn’t shut their borders in response to the pandemic but did impose strict travel restrictions so entry was only granted for essential travel.

Direct flights will run from the UK to Paris and Nice on Monday from London airports.

The Eurostar will run between London St Pancras and Paris on Monday but the cheapest ticket is currently £245.

Germany

Germany is expected to lift border restrictions for visitors from the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Berlin extended its virus warnings for non-European nations until the end of August.

Greece

Between June 15 and July 1 those flying from airports on a high-risk list will be tested when they land.

They will be required to go to a quarantine hotel and self-isolate for seven days if the test comes back negative and 14 days if positive.

Tourists coming from airports not on the list will be subject to random testing.

Iceland

Visitors to Iceland can choose between a test for Covid-19, which is free until July 1 but after that is £88, or two weeks of quarantine.

The country have had 1,807 cases of the bug and 10 deaths. It has lifted many of its lockdown restrictions and bars, restaurants, hotels, swimming pools and gyms are all open.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands will reopen its borders from Monday to travellers from the EU and Schengen countries but not the UK or Sweden.

Poland

Poland announced on June 10 it would lift travel restrictions to visitors from 26 countries, although the UK has not been specified.

It will lift self-isolation rules for EU arrivals from June 13.

Sweden

Sweden didn’t have a strict lockdown on its citizens but did close its borders to non-EU or European Economic Area countries until June 15. Britain was not included in this ban.

Switzerland

Switzerland announced last week that it would reopen its borders to visitors from the EU or UK on June 15.

Its casinos, amusement parks, zoos, spas, swimming pools and campsites can reopen while bars, restaurants and clubs are operating under a curfew, closing between 12-6am.