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​Booking Summer Holiday Abroad Would Be ‘Premature’, Says Government

​Booking Summer Holiday Abroad Would Be ‘Premature’, Says Government

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he hasn’t booked a summer holiday, warning that it’s simply too early to do so

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

While many of us are dreaming of the sun on our skin and a refreshing dip in turquoise waters, the government has warned that it would be 'premature' to book a summer holiday abroad just yet.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he hasn't booked a summer holiday, warning that it's simply too early to do so.

Appearing on The Andrew Marr Show, he warned that can't 'undermine' all of the progress that's been made through the ongoing vaccine rollout.

Wallace said: "Even though the United Kingdom is almost leading the world on vaccination rates - over half the adult population [being vaccinated], it really important that we don't import new variants that would undermine all that hard work.

"I haven't booked my holiday, I will wait to see what the responses from those task forces in April.

PA

"I think it would be premature to do that. It would be potentially risky when we have seen growing variance. We have done a huge amount since September and I don't want us to throw that away."

With people in England still under a stay-at-home order, it is currently illegal to travel internationally for holidays, while domestic holidays will not be permitted until 12 April under the government's roadmap out of lockdown.

Wallace didn't rule out an extension of travel bans, saying the government plans to 'play it by ear' as we wait to find out more in a report due in April.

He said: "I'm not going to rule anything in or anything out, and I think the first thing is we are not going to do anything that puts at risk this national effort to control this pandemic."

Amalfi, Italy.
PA

Wallace continued: "All the indicators are going in the right direction at the moment and let's take it step by step, because of the supply issue on vaccines we know that there's going to be a decline in vaccinations during next month and we know that people under 50 are not going to be vaccinated.

"Given that, and given what's going on the Continent, is it possible the government's roadmap of restrictions could be extended."

Currently, the government's roadmap states international travel will be allowed no earlier than 17 May, subject to review.

Travel will also obviously be dependant on the situation elsewhere in the globe, as other countries continue to experience waves of the virus or new variants.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, News, holidays, travel