Travel firms still in the dark over UK quarantine rules as Brittany Ferries resumes trips to France from Portsmouth

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GOVERNMENT ministers have today been called to provide ‘urgent clarity’ on quarantine rules on travellers entering the UK the boss of a major ferry firm.

Christophe Mathieu, head of Brittany Ferries, demanded a clear approach from Westminster as he sought to bring his company out of almost four months of ‘hibernation’ hell.

For the first time since March, the company resumed trips from Portsmouth to France, with more than 300 passengers setting sail to Caen on Mont St Michel this afternoon.

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But despite the revival, the company has still been left in the dark over whether or not quarantine measures, implemented on June 8, were to be eased.

Brittany Ferries' chief executive Christophe Mathieu, pictured on the Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-691) Brittany Ferries' chief executive Christophe Mathieu, pictured on the Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-691)
Brittany Ferries' chief executive Christophe Mathieu, pictured on the Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months. Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-691)

The rules require people entering the UK to self-isolate for two weeks, with harsh penalties for those caught flouting the rules.

It was hoped an announcement would be made today revealing what the next phases of unlocking quarantine would be.

However, in a written statement tonight by Britain’s transport, this news has been pushed back to ‘later this week’, sparking fresh frustration in the travel industry.

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Mr Mathieu said: ‘This has been an horrific year. It’s one of the most devastating years for the travel industry.

The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-776) The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-776)
The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months. Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-776)

‘We knew there would be a quarantine from June 8 to June 29 but now there is some frustration because we are at June 29 and there’s been nothing revealed yet.

‘There have been articles about “travel bridges” but as we speak, we are waiting for formal confirmation from the government.

‘The fact that we’re still waiting for the next phase to be announced is frustrating and we’re still pulling our hair out.’

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‘It is critical that we have clarity on the next few weeks from the UK government.’

The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-765) The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-765)
The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months. Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-765)
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Transport secretary Grant Schapps hinted the government will soon be ‘easing’ some quarantine measures for those arriving in the UK from abroad.

In an announcement today, the Tory minister said officials from the Joint Biosecurity Centre, supported by Public Health England, had a list of countries that posed a ‘lower risk’ to public health.

Under the proposals, people travelling from those countries would be exempt from the UK’s international quarantine rules, which demand people self-isolate for 14 days.

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Brittany Ferries' chief executive Christophe Mathieu, pictured on the Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-745) Brittany Ferries' chief executive Christophe Mathieu, pictured on the Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-745)
Brittany Ferries' chief executive Christophe Mathieu, pictured on the Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months. Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-745)

Mr Schapps insisted the list of those nations exempt from the quarantine rules would be unveiled ‘later this week’.

‘Although people will not need to self-isolate after entering the UK from these countries, they must not be complacent about following the public health advice on hand hygiene and social distancing,’ he said.

The news comes as Mr Mathieu warned of a devastating summer of losses for Brittany Ferries.

Only one ship will be operating from Portsmouth, with the other three remaining stuck alongside.

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Numbers allowed on the Mont St Michel have also been slashed from 1,500 to about 500, with passengers all urged to remain in their cabins for the journey.

Mr Mathieu said the cutback would lead to a ‘40 to 45 per cent’ decline in passenger numbers, piling strain on the firm.

The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-785) The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months.

Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-785)
The Mont St Michel as she departed Portsmouth en route to Caen with the first passengers in three months. Picture: Sarah Standing (290620-785)

‘We normally carry 800,000 passengers between July and August. If we carry 350,000 this summer we will be delighted,’ he said, adding: ‘2020 is definitely a write-off.’

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