As Merseyside begins to operate under new restrictions, many are wondering how this will affect their travel plans.

Under the government’s new advice, people have been advised not to travel in or out of the Liverpool City Region.

Pubs, bars, gyms, betting shops and casinos will also be closed for the foreseeable future and mixing indoors with other households is illegal.

It was reported over the weekend that travel in and out of the region could also be banned, but the government has now said this is “advised against” – but not illegal.

So what does this mean for holidays abroad? Putting aside for a moment whether it’s right to travel, will travel insurance even be valid for those travelling from Merseyside?

Usually travel insurance covers countries the government says it’s safe to travel to – and for many years, that was most popular holiday destinations.

But since the pandemic, there are only a small list of countries that you can go to without having to self-isolate on your return and the government is constantly updating its list of “safe” countries in a “travel corridor” and those it is warning against travel to.

See how coronavirus has affected your area by entering your postcode below

Most insurers won’t cover you for travelling to countries against the government warnings. These are issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

According to MoneySupermarket, you are buying a new travel insurance policy, as things stand, most travel insurance providers will still not cover cancellations to your holiday as a result of coronavirus.

If you have an existing travel insurance policy and your holiday has been cancelled whether you are covered will depend on your circumstances:

If you booked your holiday before the destination was listed by the FCO you may be able to claim for cancellation, coming home early or rearranging.

If you booked your trip after the destination was listed by the FCO, you won’t be covered.

Going to a place on the “safe travel corridor” list is, as you’d imagine, completely different.

Sally Jaques of GoCompare Travel Insurance said: “People living in Tier 3 areas have been advised by the Government to avoid leaving the area or staying overnight anywhere else in the UK – yet, it is not currently against the law to go on holiday, even abroad.

“If the destination is on the exemption list, your travel insurance should still be valid. However, policyholders would need to check with their insurer before travelling anywhere to make sure that their cover is still valid and be aware that the restrictions could change at any time.”

However, Patrick Ikhena, head of travel insurance at comparethemarket.com, warned that some insurers would consider the local lockdown restrictions as well.

He said: “If a person living within a Tier 3 zone is advised by the government against leaving the area because of lockdown restrictions, it would almost certainly void their travel insurance if they chose to defy government advice.

“The insurance would likely be void even if the FCO isn’t advising against travel to your intended destination, as government lockdown restrictions would take precedent.

“For people unsure about the implications for travel insurance during the government’s new tier system for localised lockdown, it is recommended that you check with your insurer before travelling.”

Here is the most recent travel corridor list:

Europe

Cyprus
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece (not including Crete and Mykonos)
Greenland
Ireland
Italy & Vatican City State
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Madeira and the Azores (not including mainland Portugal)
Norway
San Marino
Sweden

Americas
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Dominica
Falkland Islands
Grenada
Montserrat
South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
St Kitts and Nevis
St Barthélemy
St Pierre and Miquelon
St Vincent and The Grenadines

Asia-Pacific
Australia
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei
Fiji
Hong Kong
Japan
Macao
Malaysia
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam

Africa
Mauritius
Seychelles
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Antarctica
British Antarctic Territory