Yazmin Oukhellou of UK reality show The Only Way is Essex is one of the celebrities who has had a backlash on their travels during the pandemic. Photo: Getty Images
Social media influencers and reality TV stars who left the UK for sun-kissed destinations citing work purposes have been beaten up by the government and fans for maintaining an opulent social media presence while those at home , still subject to a third nationwide lockdown The coronavirus crisis rages on.
But now they’re facing a desperate rush to fly home by Friday afternoon. Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said Thursday that the UK would ban direct flights from the United Arab Emirates – which includes the luxury tourist city of Dubai – on its “red list” of countries banned from travel.
Earlier this month, the UAE was removed from the UK travel corridor list after a surge in infections, meaning those traveling from the UAE – including Dubai – will have to self-quarantine for 10 days.
Dubai has become a major attraction for those seemingly trying to evade Britain’s measures at home. Celebrities flock to the city to pose by the pool and bask in the heat. Many stars have documented their travels in detail and made widespread complaints.
While some have argued that their trips were really necessary for business reasons, many appear to have taken advantage of a business loophole while millions of people have been locked in their homes and separated from loved ones. The UK has recorded more than 100,000 coronavirus deaths. In the past few days, the UK government has vowed to curb those trying to take unnecessary travel.
“Technically, any influencer can go to Dubai to snap some pictures and claim it works,” one user wrote on Instagram earlier this week. Many others stated that they don’t follow celebrities who post travel photos.
“Passengers are required to provide negative test evidence and fill out the passenger tracking form prior to arrival – or else they could expect to weigh 500 pounds.” [$898] good for everyone, “Shapps said on Thursday, adding that Abu Dhabi, Rwanda and Burundi had also been added to prevent the spread of the coronavirus variant, first discovered in South Africa.
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Home Secretary Priti Patel announced on Wednesday that she would try to change the rules. Under the new measures, travelers are required to fill out a form explaining why they are leaving the country and can be sent home if their reason is insufficient.
“Taking vacations is no exception and it is important that people stay home,” Patel said as she outlined plans to reduce the flow of passengers at UK airports.
“It is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as he outlined steps to test and isolate those entering the UK from other countries to identify new variants of the virus.
Scientists and members of the public have long criticized the government’s handling of the pandemic, accusing Johnson of acting too slowly and failing to close UK borders or force international visitors to quarantine earlier.
On January 18, the UK closed all travel corridors because of the ongoing serious outbreak, which means that all visitors to the country must be quarantined upon arrival – a drastic move, however, deemed necessary and which many say will much earlier should have been done.
The UK’s crackdown came when a number of countries were viewed as more restrictive travel policies in response to the spread of virus variants that pose additional risks.
Performers on UK television show The Only Way Is Essex are some of those under scrutiny on their decision to travel to Dubai. Many people leave angry comments under photos of stars drinking wine in bars and relaxing on sun beds.
“I can’t see a lot of work, incredibly irresponsible,” one comment read while others took to the platform to remind celebrities that the National Health Service is in an uproar and that “people are dying.”
Cases are re-occurring in Dubai, where tourists are still welcome during the coronavirus outbreak, while many other countries have closed their borders to contain new infections.
Daily coronavirus cases have tripled in the past two weeks. More than 3,900 new cases were registered by the UAE’s Department of Health and Prevention on Wednesday.
The Washington Post
See also: Influencer deported from Bali for “LGBT port” tweets
See also: Back with mom and dad: influencers feel the pain of travel restrictions
Jennifer Hassan
February 1, 2021
