All British travellers who are still abroad have been told to return home immediately as more airlines plan to cease flights amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab advised all tourists or short-stay travellers to return home as soon as possible, with further closures to air routes expected in the next 48 hours.
The announcement is a drastic escalation of Foreign Office guidelines issued last week which advised against all but essential international travel from the UK.
It comes as Boris Johnson banned gatherings of more than two people and ordered the closure of all shops selling non-essential goods as well as playgrounds and churches in dramatic measures announced this evening.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that all UK citizens who live here but remain out the country should head back as soon as possible, as airlines cease flights around the glob
In a statement today, Mr Raab said: ‘We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so.
‘Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice.
‘Where commercial routes don’t exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals.
‘If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can.’
The Foreign Office said all British travellers should contact their tour operator or airline now to arrange a commercial flight if they want to return home.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘This is a very difficult time for British citizens travelling overseas, or those with families and loved ones abroad.
‘We’re in close contact with airlines, who are working tirelessly to ensure British citizens travelling overseas can safely return to the UK.
‘We are also working closely with other government departments, including the FCO to ensure airlines are able to operate to bring people back home.’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added: ‘We’re in close contact with airlines, who are working tirelessly to ensure British citizens travelling overseas can safely return to the UK’
Some who have been stuck abroad claimed on social media they have been trying to contact the British Embassy in order to return home only to be told to ‘check with the airline’.
Jordan Harris, who arrived at London Heathrow today after nine days stranded in Sri Lanka, said: ‘It’s alright Dominic Raab saying “Get home whilst you still can” but I’ve just spent nine days in Sri Lanka trying to get the British Embassy to give us any advice other than “check with the airline”.
It comes as Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, revealed she is seeking an urgent meeting to ask for a Government repatriation programme for up to one million Britons who are still stuck abroad.
Citizens have been stranded in countries including New Zealand and Peru after nationwide lockdowns were put in place amid the growing pandemic, which has infected some 348,000 people globally.
British tourists who were aboard the cruise ship Braemar arrive back in UK from Cuba at Heathrow Airport in London last Thursday
Travellers wear surgical masks as they arrived at London Heathrow airport amid the coronavirus crisis in March
A WhatsApp group of more than 300 people claimed the British embassy had been ‘appalling’ throughout the crisis, the Guardian reported.
Mr Raab did, however, announce on Saturday he would organise flights for more than 400 Britons who are still stranded in Peru after furious criticism of the FCO’s response.
Gearóid McKendrick, 28, from Galway, had climbed up Machu Picchu without phone signal when Peru announced a nationwide lockdown which left him stranded in South America.
‘It was not until we woke up in the hostel the next morning that we heard the lockdown had been announced and we had until midnight to get out of the country,’ the IT worker told the Irish Times.
He attempted to contact Air Canada, who he was due to fly home from Columbia with after months backpacking in South America, but hasn’t been able to make contact.
Speaking from his Cusco hotel room, Mr McKendrick explained he also hasn’t been able to speak to his travel insurance company.
‘I’ve had no response from them either so I am kind of at a loss at what to do,’ he said.
Amelia Mills, whose younger brother is also struck in Peru, said ‘at least there is a commitment from Raab to do something’ after it was announced the Foreign Secretary had secured permission for a UK flight to leave Peru ‘early next week’.
In an announcement today, Mr Raab said: ‘We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so’
In a tweet on Saturday, he said: ‘I spoke to my counterpart in Peru today, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, and we committed to work together in the coming days, so Britons in Peru and Peruvian nationals in UK can return home, amidst the challenges of tackling Covid-19.’
The Government’s Cobra emergency committee met at 5pm today, and Mr Johnson will make a significant announcement ‘on new measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak’ tonight, Downing Street said.
The move comes as the number of fatalities in Britain rose by 54 to 335 – the second biggest daily rise yet.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has underlined that a decision on toughening measures is expected ‘very soon’, hitting out at ‘selfish’ behaviour and saying ‘nothing is off the table’.
He pointed to measures in Italy and France – where non-essential shops have been closed, forms have to be filled out to leave the house, and police are on patrol handing out fines.
The backlash has been mounting against Mr Johnson’s ‘relaxed’ style today, with warnings of a ‘full-scale mutiny’ among Cabinet if the lockdown is not extended, and Labour claiming his ‘mixed messages will cost lives’.