Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has issued a warning to people planning travel over Christmas now many won't be allowed to do so.
On Saturday, Boris Johnson placed several areas into Tier 4, meaning millions of people have been forced to cancel their Christmas plans.
Chris Whitty told people: "My short answer would be ‘please unpack [your bags] at this stage.
"If [people] were to travel with this new variant, unwittingly, to an area that has a low prevalence and starts this being seeded even more outside the high prevalence areas that would be a significant risk to the area they went to.
"That is the reason we are really keen that people do not go from these areas."
Now Martin Lewis has warned that people won't necessarily be able to get a refund for flights if they are no longer able to travel.
Posting on Twitter, he said: "Many who can't now travel due to tier 4 asking if due flight refund. If flight cancelled yes. If not sadly no under main EU reg264 & most trav ins won't cover.
"Tho @CMAgovUK says firms shd refund but that isnt court tested So if says no 2 refund, Id grab vcher/rebook if offered."
A Twitter user then asked if people would automatically be entitled to a refund if they live in Tier 4 areas.
She said: "Given that Heathrow and Gatwick are in tier 4 and that there is a travel ban they must surely be compelled to cancel flights!!!"
However, Martin explained that the rules aren't about where airports are located, but where people live.
He said: "No the rules is about where people live not airport location. So someone from tier 2 can fly from airport in tier 4."
