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UK holidaymakers returning from Spain decry 'unfair' coronavirus quarantine People returning to UK from Spain decry 'unfair' coronavirus quarantine
(about 7 hours later)
Many face shortfall after government introduce 14-day period during which they cannot work or receive sick pay Many face shortfall because 14-day period during which they cannot work or receive sick pay
Holidaymakers returning to the UK from Spain have spoken out about how they are facing a shortfall in income after the government introduced a 14-day quarantine period as they cannot work and do not receive occupational sick pay. People returning to the UK from Spain have spoken out about how they are facing a shortfall in income after the government introduced a 14-day quarantine period, as they cannot work and do not receive occupational sick pay.
“The government’s decision is ridiculously unfair,” said Alejandro Castrillo, 29, who works at a hotel in London and had been visiting family in Asturias, northern Spain.“The government’s decision is ridiculously unfair,” said Alejandro Castrillo, 29, who works at a hotel in London and had been visiting family in Asturias, northern Spain.
“I don’t have the option to work from home and having to quarantine will mean unpaid leave or enforced holiday. Quarantine is not remunerated and I do not get sick pay. This is only generating higher levels of uncertainty.”“I don’t have the option to work from home and having to quarantine will mean unpaid leave or enforced holiday. Quarantine is not remunerated and I do not get sick pay. This is only generating higher levels of uncertainty.”
Like many others, he feels frustrated with the absence of a localised approach, with many regions in the country having less cases than in parts of the UK – even after a steep increase of almost 6,500 new confirmed cases in Spain on Monday. Like many others, he feels frustrated with the absence of a localised approach, with many Spanish regions having fewer cases than in parts of the UK – even after a steep increase of almost 6,500 new confirmed cases in Spain on Monday.
“My wish is now that this new measure is being reviewed and reconsidered for those arriving from more safe areas,” he said ahead of his flight on Monday. “I feel frustrated and confused. My region has no known Covid-19 cases.” “My wish is now that this new measure is being reviewed and reconsidered for those arriving from more safe areas,” Castrillo said before his flight. “I feel frustrated and confused. My region has no known Covid-19 cases.”
Tony Giles, from the Wirral in north-west England, worked at discount retailer B&M throughout the whole of the pandemic and was in Lanzarote with his family for a week.Tony Giles, from the Wirral in north-west England, worked at discount retailer B&M throughout the whole of the pandemic and was in Lanzarote with his family for a week.
After boarding his flight at 10pm on Saturday and landing in Manchester at 3am, he was met by the “awful” news that he would have to remain “stuck at home for a few weeks” even as lockdown continues to ease in most of the UK. After boarding his flight at 10pm on Saturday and landing in Manchester at 3am, he was met by the “awful” news that he would have to remain “stuck at home for a few weeks” even as lockdown continued to ease in most of the UK.
“It’s very frustrating that those arriving before midnight from areas with high infection rates can go back to work,” he said. “We thought it was safer going there than staying here.“It’s very frustrating that those arriving before midnight from areas with high infection rates can go back to work,” he said. “We thought it was safer going there than staying here.
“With no sick pay and as a recent starter I have no holiday left to take. But it’s not the loss of earnings for me, it’s not being able to go to work and keep fit.”“With no sick pay and as a recent starter I have no holiday left to take. But it’s not the loss of earnings for me, it’s not being able to go to work and keep fit.”
But for James Hillier from Surrey, who lives in Madrid, the decision has forced his family to cancel a memorial in the UK to finally say goodbye to his late father, whose funeral he missed in March due to the lockdown. But for James Hillier, from Surrey, who lives in Madrid, the decision had forced his family to cancel a memorial in the UK for his late father, whose funeral he missed in March owing to the lockdown.
He said his family have been waiting throughout the pandemic to spread his father’s ashes, together, but they now face a renewed wait as he and his relatives are not prepared to spend a fortnight indoors in the UK. Hillier said his family had been waiting throughout the pandemic to spread his father’s ashes, together, but they now faced a renewed wait as he and his relatives were not prepared to spend a fortnight indoors in the UK.
“We just want to move on, but now with no notice we’re essentially blocked from doing that,” Hillier said. “We just want to move on, but now with no notice we’re essentially blocked from doing that,” he said.
“It could be six months till we can do him a little send off altogether. It’s just another example of the UK government making things up as they go. There’s no plan, just a roulette wheel of poorly thought through ideas.”“It could be six months till we can do him a little send off altogether. It’s just another example of the UK government making things up as they go. There’s no plan, just a roulette wheel of poorly thought through ideas.”
Key workers, meanwhile, are questioning whether they can return to workplaces or if they too need to remain in their homes.Key workers, meanwhile, are questioning whether they can return to workplaces or if they too need to remain in their homes.
“There is confusion and a lack of credibility,” said engineer Miguel Segarra, who lives in Valencia and had been visiting family in Castillon – where there have been few cases – before returning to Southampton on Monday. “There is confusion and a lack of credibility,” said Miguel Segarra, an engineer who lives in Valencia and had been visiting family in Castillon – where there have been few cases – before returning to Southampton on Monday.
“I’m self-isolating at home for now but I think I may be able to return to work on Wednesday as a key worker. This situation is managed from politicians’ point of view and not from the scientists.”“I’m self-isolating at home for now but I think I may be able to return to work on Wednesday as a key worker. This situation is managed from politicians’ point of view and not from the scientists.”
Some names were changed to protect identitiesSome names were changed to protect identities