Two tests for all UK arrivals during mandatory quarantine

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All travellers entering the UK will be required to take two coronavirus tests while quarantining in an attempt to prevent variants entering the country.

From Monday 15th February 2021, arrivals will be required to get a test on days two and eight of their 10-day quarantine period, whether they are isolating at home or in a hotel. Any positive result will undergo genomic sequencing to confirm whether they have a variant of concern.

It is in addition to the current rules which say travellers arriving in the UK, whether by boat, train or plane, must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to be allowed entry. This test must be taken in the 72 hours before travelling, and anyone arriving without one faces a fine of up to £500, with Border Force officials carrying out spot checks.

Travellers must provide contact details and their UK address. They can then travel – by public transport if necessary – to the place where they plan to self-isolate.

From 15 February, UK residents and Irish nationals arriving from certain countries will have to quarantine in hotels. Passengers will have to stay in their rooms for 10 nights, with security guards accompanying if they go outside.

The rules will apply to UK nationals and residents arriving from 33 “red list” Covid-19 hotspots – mostly in South America and Africa. Passengers will be expected to pay for the cost of the accommodation. Non-UK travellers who have been in these countries in the 10 days before travelling are banned from entry.

All travellers – including British nationals – must self-isolate for 10 days when they get to the UK. The “test to release scheme” – where travellers from non-red list countries can leave home isolation after a negative test on day five – will remain under the new testing rules.

Passengers will be expected to use the gold-standard and more expensive PCR tests.

There will be fines of up to £10,000 and 10-year jail sentences for those who break these travel rules.

Source: BBC