Leeds news LIVE: Travellers to England from “red list” countries to quarantine in Government hotels from today

Welcome to the Yorkshire Evening Post's live blog on Monday, February 15.
photo: Shutterstockphoto: Shutterstock
photo: Shutterstock

International travellers returning to England from “red list” countries will have to quarantine in Government-designated hotels from today.

Anyone who has visited a country on the UK’s travel ban list in the last 10 days will have to quarantine in hotels from today.

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From today, if you have been in a high risk destination on the UK’s ‘red list’ – comprised of 33 hotspots with Covid variants in circulation – you will have to enter England through a designated port and have pre-booked a quarantine package to stay at one of the government’s Managed Quarantine Facilities.

Those arriving from today onwards that have not visited a red list country must still quarantine for ten days at home and complete two mandatory COVID-19 tests on the second and eighth day after arriving.

The government has tough measures already in place requiring all travellers into the UK, from any location, to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before departure and non-UK residents from the 33 red list countries are already banned from entering Britain.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “As this deadly virus evolves, so must our defences. We have already taken tough action to limit the spread, protect people and save lives.

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“With the emergence of new variants, we must go further. The rules coming into force today will bolster the quarantine system and provide another layer of security against new variants at the border.

“These new measures are important to protect our vaccination programme, which has now seen 15 million people vaccinated, we all work towards restoring normal life.”

The new measures that have come in to force today will further strengthen the UK’s borders, limit the spread of new COVID-19 variants and potentially save lives.

The tougher quarantine restrictions also carry heavier fines and penalties with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Scroll down for more information and the latest Leeds news.

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