UK to start mandatory hotel quarantine for travellers

The UK is starting mandatory quarantine for travellers who are entering into the country from abroad, starting from February 15. The mandatory quarantine will be carried out in hotels according to the government. This latest ruling has come at a time when the country is dealing with the new strain of coronavirus, and as the world is still battling the virus.
Not only this, but the United Kingdom has also increased the presence of police at airports, and physical checks at addresses have increased manifolds. This is to ensure that people are self-isolating. Travellers are required to stay at hotels for ten nights, and hotel owners have been asked to provide rooms in order to accomodate the travellers coming into the country everyday.


According to the government’s official website, the centre has met with various stakeholders across industries, such as maritime, aviation, hotel, and hospitality over the last week. The website also said that the rule applies to travellers returning from a country that is currently on the UK’s banned list. This includes the whole of South America, a large part of Southern Africa, and Portugal. It is imperative that travellers furnish their journey, and contact details before entering the UK, and also self-isolate themselves once they have arrived. This self-isolation rule will transform into mandatory hotel quarantine from February 15 onwards.
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), “We are now working at pace to secure the facilities we need to roll out managed quarantine for British nationals returning home from the most high-risk countries, and are rightly engaging with representatives from the hospitality, maritime and aviation industry, and learning from our friends around the world. In the face of new variants, it is important that the government continues to take the necessary steps to protect people and save lives.”