PLANS for a 14-day quarantine period for most people arriving in the UK – initially in England – have attracted much comment, mainly surrounding the economic cost of the move, largely concerning the effect on the tourism sector.
There has been less of a focus on the human cost of the self-isolation on migrants in the UK, thousands of whom remain cut off from their families as pandemic restrictions are eased to allow British citizens to meet family and friends, albeit with some restrictions.
One Spanish woman living in Glasgow managed to book flights to visit her family for the first time in six months before the quarantine was announced, but is now having to reconsider whether she can make the trip.
Andrea Nogales has been living with her partner in Scotland since September and works in a city tearoom.
But she – like many others – is on a zero-hour contract and if she has to go into quarantine for 14 days on her return from Miranda de Ebro, in the north of Spain, she will lose two weeks wages and potentially her job.
The 31-year-old last saw her relatives in December and must now make the painful choice of seeing them again, even for a few days, or her livelihood.
Nogales told The National: “It’s the longest period I’ve spent away from them, so it has been very difficult, especially for my grandmother who is 93 years old and who I normally see almost every day. Thankfully I can see them using video calls.
“I was very happy [to book my flight] because even though it was only for a few days, I could finally see my friends and family and be in my hometown. I had one flight cancelled before also because of the pandemic.”
The choice she now has is to visit her family and lose two weeks’ wages, which she can ill afford, or postpone the trip and lose the cost of her flight.
“With a zero-hour contract, it is almost impossible for me to not work for such a long time,” said Nogales.
“But I was of course very excited about seeing my family. And I now do not know when I will next see them. I am very disappointed but I know I will just have to wait a little more.”
She said it was difficult to say if the UK Government should have implemented the quarantine earlier, but added: “The situation has improved so much in Spain but the UK still seems to be behind. Now there are flights and other things are more
normal but this quarantine has made it impossible to go back to see my family and friends for the first time in so long.”
Nazek Ramadan, director of the charity Migrant Voice, told The National policymakers should be aware of all the implications of a measure such as the 14-day confinement.
She told The National: “There’s been so much talk about the economic costs of the UK’s quarantine measures, but little attention paid to the human cost.
“While those of us with family nearby are now finally able to meet with them again, many migrants in the UK have no idea when they’ll be able to see their loved ones.
“It’s particularly difficult for migrants on zero-hour contracts like Andrea and key workers who don’t have the option to work from home during their quarantine period.
“The quarantine measures may be necessary to help prevent the further spread of the virus, but our policymakers need to be aware of all the implications, not just the financial ones, and actively seeking solutions that can help people like Andrea to be with her family again soon.”
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