Nicola Sturgeon on coronavirus in Spain: ‘I would not book a foreign holiday right now’

Nicola Sturgeon has said she would not book a holiday abroad just now over fears quarantine rules could quickly change.

The First Minister, speaking at the coronavirus briefing, said she does not want to raise expectations over a possible compensation scheme for people forced to self-isolate after returning from Spain.

It comes after regulations for travelling from the country were changed just two days after it was made exempt, meaning holidaymakers will have to spend 14 days in isolation on their return.

Ms Sturgeon warned quarantine restrictions could be reimposed at short notice and said she would opt to take a holiday at home.

The First Minister, speaking at the coronavirus briefing, said she does not want to raise expectations over a possible compensation scheme for people forced to self-isolate after returning from Spain. (Photo by Jane Barlow-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The First Minister said: “Right now, be very, very cautious about booking foreign travel that is not essential because you don’t know that when you’re in a country they may change their regulations and so you might find yourself restricted in that country and when you go to come home you might find that the quarantine rules have changed here.

“I wouldn’t, if you were asking me, be booking a foreign holiday right now because of these reasons.

“I would be choosing, if I had the time to go on holiday, to spend it here in Scotland.”

Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie has pushed for a Government scheme to be set up to support those facing quarantine and thereby not able to work, but the First Minister appeared to reject the calls.

She said: “It’s not something to give people an expectation around.

“I usually say, and will continue to say, we consider all suggestions that are made to us but I don’t want to raise people’s expectations.”

She added: “I know this is really tough. These decisions are not easy and I know the people who bear the consequences of these decisions find it really difficult as well.”

The First Minister said there is an “inherent uncertainty” in the response to coronavirus, meaning the situation can change rapidly.

Explaining the decisions made last week, the First Minister said data showed the prevalence of the virus was closer to Scotland and measures imposed on travellers from the country could be eased due to their impact on the aviation and tourism sector.

Two days later, further data showed a resurgence of the virus in the popular holiday destination.

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