Atherstone travel agent: My cure for bout of holiday blues brought on by coronavirus is a 'self-isolation' staycation

Atherstone and district has been promised a temporary cure for travel sickness as the country is told to "distance itself" from Europe in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

This week families face hearing the news of a Government-enforced "at-home" regime which puts holiday dreams abroad out of bounds.

But a Witherley-based travel consultant says the short-term answer to the virtual wipeout of worldwide breaks is a return to home holidaying in the form of a 'staycation' – and it can be totally isolated from the outside world.

Independent agent Neil Smith told Nub News it is still possible to have a relaxing, enjoyable break in an idyllic setting.

He said: "Clearly going abroad is out of the question – with most travel companies cancelling.

"But in a throwback to 2017 when the summer in Britain prompted more of us to holiday at home – there's nothing to stop anyone hiring a country cottage for couples or a larger family and be totally self-isolating.

"Yes, with possible changes afoot, a trip to the pub and restaurant may be out of the equation but there is nothing stopping you making your own entertainment – and you can still go for long walks in beautiful countryside or along coastal paths."

He said there are country cottage specialist companies in the UK as well as an Airbnb alternative.

Despite being the principal of Your Holiday Booking, which is part of Mid Counties Co-operative, Mr Smith has not escaped the effects of coronavirus.

He was due on a Fred Olsen cruise this month but the travel company, like many cruise operatives, has postponed all sailings until late May at the earliest.

Mr Smith said there is an ongoing problem for people still away from the UK in foreign destinations, connected to their travel insurance.

If you book with a bonded travel agent your holiday and arrangements are covered, he said.

But people who book flights are getting stranded when other countries they visit put them into quarantine following the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Smith cited Malta as a recent example where a curfew was imposed and people who arrived at Valetta were told they had to be kept in isolation for a fortnight – when some had only booked a weekend break.

"If you are not with a bonded agent, like ATOL, then you can face having to pay to get yourself back home," he warned.

Plans to isolate entire households and measures to shield the elderly will be unveiled by Government later as the disease has claimed 14 more UK lives between the ages of 59 and 94 in a 24-hour period – bringing the total of deaths to 35 in 1,391 confirmed cases.

Among confirmation of the latest deaths is a woman in her 70s with underlying health issues who was a patient at Nuneaton's George Eliot Hospital. She died on Friday.

Travel firms and major carriers are responding to the "rapidly changing environment" of the Covid-19 pandemic as the Foreign Office advises against all-but-essential trips to 16 countries on the continent.

Tui has suspended the vast majority of all travel operations until further notice, including package holidays, cruises and hotel operations.

EasyJet has said it is introducing "further significant cancellations" as a result of "the unprecedented level of travel restrictions being imposed by governments in response to coronavirus".

British Airways' parent company IAG also announced plans to reduce capacity by at least 75 per cent next month and into May compared to the same period in 2019.

Two favourite holiday destinations – Spain and Italy – have been worst hit by coronavirus.

The FCO advises against all but essential travel to all of Italy, Sicily and Sardinia as Europe's sickest nation, in coronavirus terms, has 24,747 cases with 1,809 deaths – up 369 in 24 hours.

Authorities in Italy have advised against travel for tourism purposes and said tourists already on holiday in Italy should limit their movements to those necessary to return to the place where they live.

With 294 deaths, Spain is Europe's worst-hit country after Italy with 7,988 confirmed cases.

The FCO updated its advice on Spain in the early hours of yesterday, advising against all but essential travel to the whole country.

This advice was changed after a Jet2 plane from the UK to Spain turned back in mid-air as the airline announced it was cancelling all flights to the country.

Norwegian authorities said that all non-resident visitors arriving from countries other than Finland and Sweden would be asked to leave on arrival.

British nationals legally resident in Norway will be allowed to enter the country but must enter self-quarantine for 14 days.

In Switzerland, where all the schools are closed, 841 new cases were confirmed today – raising the total to 2,200. There have been 14 deaths.

The 16 European countries on the FCO "all-but-essential travel" list are Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Malta, Albania, Kosovo, San Marino, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has ordered a 14-day self-isolation for anyone arriving in the country to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The measure mirrors the action taken by New Zealand on Saturday.

On Saturday the US government extended an existing European travel ban to the UK and Ireland, with the exception of returning US citizens and legal residents.

In addition, other countries outside of Europe on the list are Argentina, Burma, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Canada is urging all its citizens abroad to return home while they still can while Chile has quarantined 1,300 people on two cruise ships off the country's coast after an elderly Brit tested positive aboard one of the vessels.

Boris Johnson is to address the nation on the coronavirus threat as later this week mass gatherings look set to be prohibited.

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency meeting of the Cobra committee this afternoon before holding the first of the daily press conferences being planned to update the public on Covid-19.

Under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, which were passed last month, a person who is required to be kept in isolation can be taken there by a constable, with the use of "reasonable force, if necessary".

Failure to comply with restrictions, or absconding from isolation, is punishable with a fine of up to £1,000.

Mr Johnson is expected to discuss the isolation proposal, as well as banning mass gatherings and isolating entire households if one member shows symptoms, during the emergency meeting.

For the latest advice on coronavirus, click here.

Public Health England has reportedly briefed health bosses the epidemic in the UK could last until spring next year and lead up to an eighth of population – 7.9 million people – being admitted to hospital.

In the UK there are 1,336 currently infected patients, of which 99 per cent (1,316) are in a "mild" condition and 20 people (one per cent) in a serious or critical condition.

Of the 55 cases with an "outcome", 35 have died and 20 so far have recovered.

Since the outbreak began in China, its National Health Commission has confirmed 80,866 cases, including 3,213 deaths.

Some 67,764 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital, leaving 9,898 confirmed cases. There are 9,889 active cases in total, including 3,226 in a serious condition.