Although there had been reports of blanket travel restrictions, it is thought the UK could introduce a targeted hotel quarantine applying to certain countries.
Inews reports that although there have been reports of blanket travel restrictions, it is now thought that the UK could introduce a more targeted approach.
Which countries could hotel quarantine rules apply to?
Reports have suggested that ministers may opt for a system that targets passengers arriving from high-risk coronavirus hotspots.
Various publications have reported that a list of 30 countries will be announced, with the BBC reporting that arrivals from most of southern Africa and South America will be included. Portugal is also thought to be on the initial list, due to many flights from Brazil coming via its capital Lisbon.
Earlier this month, the Government banned direct travel from 16 countries, including all of South America and Portugal, in a bid to prevent the spread of the Brazil variant.
It followed a similar ban for South Africa introduced just before Christmas, which was subsequently expanded to include 11 other nations in southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.
While these countries would be expected to form the bulk of the reported 30-strong list, the Daily Mail is among publications reporting that the UAE – including celebrity winter sun hotspot Dubai could be included.
African nations such as Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia have also been tipped to face restrictions.
A travel corridor between the UK and the UAE was removed from the travel corridor list earlier this month following a spike in Covid19 cases.
What will the new quarantine rules be?
It is expected that arrivals from countries on the list will be required to self-isolate in a hotel for 10 days to protect against the arrival of new variants into the UK.
Details on which hotel companies and which could be used are not known, but it is thought that travellers will be asked to pay for their own accommodation, which could cost more than £1,000.
It is not yet known how long these measures will be put in place, and reports suggest, with many hotels closed due to low traveller numbers, it could take up to three weeks to implement the policy.
Australia became one of the first countries to introduce mandatory hotel quarantine in March, while the practice was also introduced in China, New Zealand, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, Qatar and Thailand.
Although the restrictions will initially apply to England, the Scottish Government has said it will go “at least as far” in enhancing quarantine measures.
Ministers in Northern Ireland were expected to discuss the issue on Tuesday, while there is currently no direct route into Wales for international travellers.
Currently, anybody entering the UK from abroad, including British nationals, must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 tests taken up to three days before departure.
All travellers must also self-isolate upon arrival even if they test negative, although in England travellers may end this period early if they pay for a private coronavirus test.
(Story source: INews)
