The Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed this afternoon that Britons travelling from high-risk countries will go into hotel quarantine.
Meanwhile people flying from UK are to face enhanced checks and will have to make a declarartion about why they are leaving the country.
Patel told the House of Commons that people are still not isolating when they need to confirming the point that going on holiday is not an essential reason to travel.
Police at airports and ports will refuse entry to non-uk travellers from the red list and will manage the isolation process in hotels for those who cannot be refused entry.
“You will face a fine if you don’t follow regulations. These measures at the border are necessary to protect the public and our world class vaccinations.” said the Home Secretary
Bans are already in place on visitors from South Africa, Portugal, Brazil and other South American countries in a bid to control the spread of new variants of Covid-19.
Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds said that hotel quarantine plans for travel from Covid hotspots are “too little too late” and don’t go far enough and suggested that the Home Secretary herself was not in favour of these restrictions.
Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said:
“Business understands the health imperative, and remains committed to working with Government to bring the virus under control so normal life can resume.
“However, new quarantine rules will come as a further blow to an industry that has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
“It is crucial that any tightening of international travel restrictions is decided on transparent evidence, clearly communicated and consistently applied.
“Immediate support will be needed to protect companies and jobs in the difficult period ahead. Firms will also expect Government to signpost a tangible route towards relaxing these restrictions, which must include a firm commitment to establishing a successful airport testing regime.
“These measures are critical to ensuring the UK’s world-class aviation sector – which underpins so much of our economic activity – can be ready to contribute to the country’s recovery later this year.”
