There’s has been a lot of chatter about plans for the UK Government to impose hotel quarantines. Well, it seems this is now going into effect, with both the Prime Minister and Home Secretary making announcements in parliament.
This will require arrivals – both UK Nationals and Visitors, to isolate at government-provided accommodation such hotels, for 10 days without exception.
A date has not been set for this to commence.
The full measures announced today include:
For those wishing to travel out of the UK
- Declaring a reason for travel: anyone who does not have a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home and may face a fine. The reason for travel will be checked.
- Increased police enforcement: there will be an increased police presence at ports and airports, fining those in breach of the stay at home regulations. Anyone without a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home and may face a fine.
- Reviewing travel exemptions: the list of travel exemptions will be urgently reviewed so that only the most important and exceptional reasons are included.
For those seeking to enter the UK
- Managed isolation in hotels: this will be for those arriving from countries where we have imposed international travel bans and who cannot be refused entry. They will be required to isolate for ten days without exception and more details will be provided in due course.
- Police checks: police are carrying out more physical checks at addresses to make sure people are self-isolating.
The Red-List
Currently, this will be targeted as “red list” countries. Looking at the current red list (countries that the UK has banned entry from), these include
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Ecuador
- Eswatini
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Like previous travel corridors list, this is subject to change at short notice.
In Quotes
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
“There are still too many people coming in and out of our country each day. The rules are clear – people should be staying at home unless they have a valid reason to leave. Going on holiday is not a valid reason.
As we have done throughout this global health emergency, we will continue to take all steps necessary to protect the public and help prevent the spread of the virus.”
Watch for changes
Whilst this has been teased for a week – it’s pretty clear that the new rules haven’t been fully ironed out yet. There’s going to be tweaks to this as they go along, as well as the cost of quarantine – which will be borne on the passenger.
We’ll have to keep an eye on what the final policy looks like.
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Thanks for posting this.
As US resident and UK citizen, I’d hoped to return to the UK in March to collect some belongings from a soon to be sold family home. I’m assuming provided I have a negative COVID test result with me when I arrive I’ll be admitted without quarantine. And upon leaving to return to the USA I’ll have to do the same. Is this your understanding? Or have I misunderstood it?