I’m desperate to visit my family in the UK but Covid rules mean I can’t

DEAR DEIDRE: I’M desperate to come home to see my family but Covid rules have left me stuck abroad.

I’m 68, and ten years ago I emigrated to Colombia with my husband, who comes from there. He is 70.

Before Covid, we used to return home every summer to visit our grown-up children and grandchildren.

But due to the pandemic, I haven’t hugged them for two years.

We were planning to visit this autumn. Now I’ve learned that although we’re double-jabbed, Colombia is still on the red list.

That means we’d have to quarantine for ten days and do several expensive PCR tests. We can’t afford it.

I miss my family so much and I’m so stressed I can’t eat or sleep.

DEIDRE SAYS: Being separated from your loved ones for this long is so hard.

You are not alone – the current rules make it very difficult for most people to travel to or from red-list countries.

You will find the latest information on the gov.uk website.

But you need to learn how to deal better with your stress, or you will get ill.
My support pack has tips and sources of support.

Try to be patient and keep in touch with your family by video calls until the situation changes.

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