Quarantine in the UK: What you need to know as Government introduces mandatory two-week quarantine measures on entering UK

Leading the Government’s daily briefing on Friday, May 22 Home Secretary Priti Patel announced mandatory 14-day quarantine measures to reduce new waves of coronavirus from overseas.

The quarantine period will be imposed on all new arrivals to the UK from June 8 - with fines of up to £1,000 for anyone who breaches the measures.

The restrictions are aimed at preventing a second peak of the disease being introduced by travellers.

Ms Patel defended not having imposed the restriction earlier, she commented: "The answer as to why we're bringing in these measures now is simple: It is to protect that hard-won progress and prevent a devastating resurgence in a second wave of the virus.

"We are taking it at a time that it will be the most effective."

Passengers will have to provide their contact and travel information so they can be traced if infections arise, and could face random checks from public health authorities to ensure their compliance during the 14-day period.

Breaches will be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England, or prosecution with an unlimited fine – devolved nations can set out their own enforcement approaches.

Border Force will be able to refuse entry to foreign citizens who are not UK residents during border checks while removal from the country could be used as a last resort, the Home Office said.

Anyone arriving by air, sea or rail will be advised to use personal transport to head to their accommodation and once there not leave for 14 days, the likely maximum incubation period for Covid-19.

If accommodation does not meet necessary requirements - with hotels, or with friends and family listed as options - they will have to pay to self-isolate in accommodation arranged by the Government.

However, the Home Secretary said the advice did not have "any bearing” on booking summer holidays abroad and reiterated that the Government still advised against all but essential travel.

The mandatory self-isolation will not apply to people coming from Ireland, medics tackling Covid-19 and seasonal agricultural workers.

A full list of exemptions will be published online.

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