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Travellers arriving from Ireland are exempt from the new rules which state anyone coming into the UK must self-isolate for 14 days. Ireland is part of the Common Travel Area so comes under the same rules as the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. And British travellers would also avoid Ireland’s own coronavirus quarantine rules which do not apply to people with onward journeys to the UK.

We are already looking at offers that divert via Dublin

Mike Woolridge

Ireland’s Health Service Executive said: “The only people who do not need to self-isolate are people who are briefly stopping over at an airport on their way to another country.”

The loophole gives British travellers two options of avoiding the UK quarantine restrictions unveiled by Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday.

They could either book a flight from abroad to Dublin with an immediate connection on the same airline into the UK.

Or they could arrive in the Irish capital and declare an intention to travel into Northern Ireland via a direct bus journey.

Travel companies have already said they are looking at ways of exploiting the loophole.

Mike Woolridge of Flyaway Weekends told the Sun: “We can see a real demand for short-notice travel once restrictions are slackened, and are already looking at offers that divert via Dublin so we’re ready to help plan weekend breaks as demand starts to return.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “Anyone travelling from Ireland will be exempt.

“However, given the high levels of compliance we have seen to date, we expect that the majority of people will do the right thing and abide by these measures.”

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Ms Patel told yesterday’s Downing Street briefing that arrivals into the UK must self-isolate for two weeks from June 8, with rule breakers facing a £1,000 fine.

All travellers will be required to give an address where they will observe the quarantine period.

Ms Patel said: “This will require international arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days – that is the incubation period for the virus.

“So for people who have become infected overseas we can limit this spread of the virus.

“With far fewer people being infected in this country, any new arrivals will have a much bigger impact, potentially causing a second wave.”

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Ms Patel also suggested “safe corridors” which could see British holidaymakers visit countries with similar infection rates without having to self-isolate.

She said: “When it comes to air bridges, we should be absolutely open to all ideas.

“This is not for today but it doesn’t mean we should rule this out for the future.

“We should be looking to lead the world when it comes to reopening aviation but that’s going to take time.”

Freight drivers, medical professionals and seasonal agricultural workers are also exempt from the UK quarantine measures which will be reviewed every three weeks.

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