The BMA is today urging holidaymakers in England to take precautions and plan ahead in order to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19 when domestic tourism restarts.
With lockdown restrictions on overnight stays set to be lifted from 4 July, hotels, B&Bs and campsites will be allowed to reopen, provided shared facilities can be kept clean.
However, the doctors’ union is today advising tourists to ensure they follow a series of simple but important public health messages designed to protect themselves and others against the spread of the virus when tourism returns.
The BMA’s public messaging campaign1 urges people to:
Don’t travel if you’re ill, or have any symptoms of COVID-19 (eg cough, high temperature, loss of smell or taste)
Have a plan for self-isolation if you, or anybody in your ‘bubble’, develops symptoms or are told to do so by the official NHS Test and Trace service. You will likely be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
If you take medicines prescribed by your doctor, make sure you have enough with you to last for your time away
Practise good social distancing and hand washing while you are away from home
Wear a face covering whenever you are mixing with others outside your ‘bubble’ and cannot social distance, particularly when you are indoors.
The BMA’s public health information comes just days after pictures of a crowded Bournemouth beach raised concerns over social distancing.
Currently there is no clear guidance for tourists and so the doctors’ union hopes the advice can help reduce the spread of infection and ultimately prevent undue pressure being placed on local health systems, particularly those close to tourist hotspots.
The BMA has also produced a set of principles
