The Gov-UK website has reported tough new enforcement measures, from fixed penalty notices to imprisonment, which will come into force on Monday 15 February for arrivals in England.
All passengers travelling to England must take mandated COVID-19 tests on day two and day eight of a 10 day quarantine
Those who have been to a ‘red list’ country required to purchase ‘quarantine package’ covering hotel and testing (16 hotels contracted so far for an initial 4,600 rooms).
From February 15 all arrivals at English ports will be required to undertake two mandatory COVID-19 tests – on day two and day eight of their 10-day quarantine.
The new measures build on those already in place, which include refusing entry to non-UK residents from ‘red list’ countries.
All passengers, no matter which country they have travelled from, are already required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before departure and must self-isolate on arrival. A passenger locator form must also be completed with fines for those who fail to comply.
From Monday, anyone arriving who has been in a country on the UK’s travel ban list in the previous 10 days will be required to purchase a quarantine package at a charge for a single adult of 1,750 sterling. Bookings will be made through a dedicated online portal and will include:
- assigned government transportation
- food and drinks
- accommodation in a government-approved facility
- security
- welfare
- testing
To ensure compliance, fines will be issued and will range from £5,000 rising to £10,000 for arrivals who fail to quarantine in a designated hotel. A £1,000 penalty will also be given to any international arrival who fails to take a mandatory test, followed by a £2,000 penalty to any international arrival who fails to take the second mandatory test. This will be accompanied by an automatic extension of the quarantine period to 14 days.
Passenger locator forms will now not only detail their travel journey but also their quarantine and testing package. Anyone attempting to conceal that they have travelled in a ‘red list’ country on their form could face a £10,000 fine or prosecution and up to 10 years in prison.
The compliance and enforcement regime is end-to-end, and all passengers should expect to be checked at various points throughout their journey, such as:
- by carriers at the time of departure
- by airport staff throughout their journey
- by Border Force officers on arrival
- spot checks by police, where appropriate, for those quarantining at home
Guidelines for travellers will be published on GOV.UK website and the booking portal will go live on Thursday.
Information from the website Gov.UK.
