A doctor who flew to Spain yesterday is flying home just 24 hours into his holiday after the new quarantine measures.
Dr Andras Szigeti, from Chelmsford, Essex, flew to Malaga on Saturday with his partner for a holiday after working through lockdown.
But they are set to return home today after the UK government announced late last night that all returning travellers must isolate for 14 days.
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Just three minutes after they landed, the couple discovered that Spain's quarantine exemption had been revoked.
Dr Szigeti told the BBC: "Since I am a private doctor and I am the main bread winner in the family, I cannot allow myself to lose half of my monthly salary.
"So we decided to return tomorrow and use at least part of my holiday as quarantine."
He said they were "devastated" by the news as the couple had initially hoped to visit their families in Hungary but can't due to strict requirements.
Arrivals into Hungary from the UK must provide two negative test results for coronavirus with a minimum of 48 hours difference between the two tests, taken within the five days prior to your entry date.
Dr Szigeti added: "Now we have changed our flights for the third time and all together paid £600 for our one night trip to the sun."
The government removed Spain from the UK's safe list, in a blow to thousands of holidaymakers either abroad or set to travel soon.
The "air bridge" with Spain was shutdown after the holiday destination recorded more than 900 new daily infections for the past two days.
The regions of Catalonia and Aragon are particularly hard-hit - with most outbreaks linked to parties and nightlife as young people shun social distancing and face masks.
The fresh measures came into effect from midnight with everyone returning from mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands affected.
The Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to mainland Spain.
A UK government spokesman said: "The Joint Biosecurity Centre together with Public Health England have updated their coronavirus assessments of Spain based on the latest data."
"As a result, Spain has been removed from the lists of countries from which passengers arriving in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are exempted from the need to self-isolate.
"Both our list of quarantine exemptions and the FCO travel advice are being updated to reflect these latest risk assessments."
The Link LonkJuly 26, 2020 at 03:48PM
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Doctor ditches Spain holiday after one night because he can't afford to quarantine - Mirror Online
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