Holidays: Hotel quarantine could start on 'February 15' as UK clamps down on travel

Holidays received a blow last month as it was announced the Government was clamping down on travel. Among the strict new measures is the new hotel quarantine rule. This sees travellers from the “red list” of 33 high-risk countries forced to self-isolate in a hotel at their own expense for 10 days.

Although the measure was mooted last month, no start date was announced.

However, according to a travel expert, the hotel quarantine is set to come in at the middle of the month.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy, The PC Agency, claimed February 15 is the start date.

“Hearing that hotel quarantine from high-risk areas will begin on 15th February,” he posted on Twitter today.

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The Government has yet to confirm this date, however, but is understood to be unveiling details this week

The hotel quarantine rules apply to British and Irish Nationals or third-country nationals with residence rights in the UK.

Until the start date of the quarantine, these travellers have to self-isolate at home for 10 days.

They are not able to use the Test to Release scheme to cut the quarantine period.

Everyone else is banned from entering the UK if coming from the “red list” countries.

Countries banned by the UK

Angola

Argentina

Bolivia

Botswana

Brazil

Burundi

Cape Verde

Chile

Colombia

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ecuador

Eswatini

French Guiana

Guyana

Lesotho

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)

Rwanda

Seychelles

South Africa

Suriname

Tanzania

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Uruguay

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe

“Not exactly rushing into this one, are they?” a third tweeted.

Although the travel ban list currently features 33 countries, it is aways “under review” so more destinations could be added.

Last week Charles speculated Spain might be added to the list.

“Keep an eye on #Spain” he tweeted after successfully predicting the United Arab Emirates would be added to the banned list.

It’s is unlikely a blanket hotel quarantine rule will apply to all countries, with the Government labelling this “unfeasible.”

Express.co.uk has contacted the Government for further details.

source: express.co.uk