This year’s Love Island winter contestant Shaughna Phillips has extended her holiday in Spain to get some extra sun and delay her 14-day quarantine, MailOnline has learned.
The reality TV star, 26, found herself caught up in the coronavirus chaos at the weekend while in the Costa del Sol as the government pulled its air bridge with the holiday hot spot following a spike in COVID-19 cases.
In an exclusive interview, the former democratic services officer expressed her concerns about the money worries and heartache the dramatic U-turn on isolation will cause tens of thousands of Britons.
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Two-week quarantine? I’ll get some extra sun!’ Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips has extended her holiday in Spain to get some extra sun and delay her 14-day quarantine
‘Why can’t people coming home from Spain be tested for the virus instead of locking them up for 14 days?’, Shaughna told MailOnline.
The media personality added: ‘For lots of people their holiday to Spain is the first they have been able to a break. But this has all been ruined by this abrupt change in the rules on travel.
‘People’s lives have been turned upside down and some are going to lose thousands of pounds in lost wages.’
The influencer, from south London, was on holiday with her mum Tracy in Marbella when she learned about the government rules requiring anyone returning from Spain to quarantine for 14 days.
The reality TV star, 26, found herself caught up in the coronavirus chaos at the weekend while in the Costa del Sol
Holiday fun: The media personality pictured with fellow Islanders (L-R) Amy Hart, Georgia Harrison, Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris at Olivia’s La Cala in Malaga last week
She explained: ‘I was due to return home on last Sunday [26th July]. But the night before, on Saturday, I started receiving messages from my aunt and my cousin about the new quarantine rules.
‘I didn’t hear anything from the airline, British Airways. There was nothing on their travel advice. The only information we were getting from the Daily Mail and Sky News.
Revealing her mother decided to return to the UK due to her pet, Shaughna elaborated: ‘My mum had to go home because our dog – Dempsey, an Alapaha bulldog – was in kennels.
‘But I only have only one face-to-face work commitment this week which has been postponed. And the rest of my work commitments can be done over the phone or via video link.
‘People’s lives have been turned upside down’: In an exclusive interview, the democratic services officer expressed her concerns about issues the U-turn on isolation will cause
Separated: The influencer, from south London, was on holiday with her mum Tracy (pictured), who returned home as their dog was in kennels
‘So I decided to stay for an extra week because I had nothing to rush back for. And so I thought if I have to quarantine for 14 days why not get a bit of extra sun.
‘Sadly not everyone is as fortunate as me. Lots of people have cut their holidays short.
‘And I want to question why we all have to go into quarantine when there are alternatives to keep the virus under control.’
The TV star urged the government to change their decision as she detailed: ‘I’ve heard that it can take up to ten days for the symptoms to emerge. But the Spanish government have offered to give tourists a Covid test.
‘If these tests are available just before you leave for home, it takes out the need for a 14-day quarantine.
‘I want the government to rethink their hastily taken action’: The TV star urged the government to change their decision
‘I want the government to rethink their hastily taken action.’
Shaughna, who is currently appearing in the E4 show Celebs Go Virtual Dating, confirmed she will eventually be forced to endure 14 days quarantine when she returns home next week.
She said: ‘I am obviously going to quarantine for 14 days when I get home.
‘I can only imagine the stick I would get if I broke the quarantine rules and was spotted out. However, I’m definitely going to get a test when I get back.’
The government introduced a mandatory 14-day quarantine on anyone returning to Britain from Spain from Monday in a hastily announced change in the rules at the weekend.
Rule: The government pulled its air bridge with the holiday hot spot and introduced a 14-day quarantine following a spike in COVID-19 cases (Brits pictured in Mallorca on Monday)
The rules apply to all regions of Spain, including the Canary and Balearic islands – though politicians in the latter say they are trying to thrash out a regional air bridge.
Spain was one of the worst hit countries in Europe by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 290,000 cases and over 28,000 deaths.
However, it imposed very strict lockdown measures to contain the spread, gradually easing them earlier in the summer.
Spain had been among of a number of ‘air-bridge’ countries considered to be safe for quarantine-free travel, promoting many stars to book getaways.
Fellow celebs Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan have also been forced to isolate after their fun-filled trip across the Balearic islands.
‘Back to quarantine life!’ Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan have also been forced to isolate after their fun-filled trip across the Balearic islands (pictured on their flight home on Monday)