Arrivals to the UK will have to quarantine for 2 weeks from June 8, Priti Patel announces

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ARRIVALS to the UK will have to quarantine for two weeks from June 8, Priti Patel has announced.

The Government will now ask all arrivals to give an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Priti Patel today revealed anyone coming to Britain will have to self-isolate for two weeks.

Unveiling the plans, the Home Secretary claimed it was a vital step now Britain was past the peak.

She said: “This will require international arrivals to self isolate for 14 days , that is incubation period for the virus.

“So for people who have become infected overseas we can limit this spread of the virus.

“With far fewer people being infected in this country, any new arrivals will have a much bigger impact, potentially causing a second wave.

“We will not allow a small minority, a reckless minority, to endanger us all. So there will be penalties for those who break these mandatory measures.”

The move will also give police the power to carry out spot checks at people’s homes and hit them with £1000 fines if they breach the rules.

There are expected to be around 100 checks a day and those found to have breached quarantine face fines of at least £1,000.

Magistrates will even have the power to issue unlimited fines for persistent breaches or refusal to pay.

Ms Patel explained: “We will conduct spot checks by mid June to ensure people are self isolating, and those who are overseas who refuse to comply could be refused entry,

“Our absolute priority remains to stop the spread of this infection to save lives and to stop or prevent a second dangerous wave of this virus.”

The plans were backed by the Director General of Border Force, Paul Lincoln.

He said: “We will take enforcement action against small minority of people who will disregard and further endanger people’s lies

“If you have the virus or displaying symptoms you should not travel, to do otherwise is potentially putting peoples lives at risk.”

It comes as:

  • No10 released SAGE schools advice which warns lockdown caused a ‘shock’ to kids that will last the rest of their lives
  • A graph from the Government’s top scientists has revealed teachers are at a very low risk of catching coronavirus from children
  • It emerged more than than 40 per cent of the businesses who took out emergency loans during the coronavirus crisis do not expect to pay it back
  • Government borrowing ballooned to £62.1 billion in the worst monthly figure since records began
  • Matt Hancock warned the UK could return to “square one” with fears Brits are becoming blase about social distancing
  • Downing Street hinted London could emerge from lockdown at a different time to other regions

However, journeys within the Common Travel Area will be exempt from the measures.

The Common Travel Area comprises of the UK, as well as Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

Under the plans, travellers arriving at all ports and airports will be ordered to go into self-isolation for a fortnight.

Foreign nationals who refuse to agree to self-isolate will be banned from even entering the country.

Airlines have warned the proposals will deliver yet another blow to the travel industry.

Airlines have warned the changes could hit the industry when it’s already struggling

This morning cabinet minister Brandon Lewis insisted it was the right approach.

The Northern Ireland Secretary said: “A few countries around the world are looking at this or have already introduced this.

“I think it is a simple approach. As our R number is down we want to ensure that we don’t get that second spike.

“And I think it’s right we put the health of people here in the UK absolutely paramount.”

It comes as a bombshell report by the government’s top scientists today warned lockdown has caused a “shock” to kids and will affect work opportunities for the rest of their lives.

Downing Street today published the findings from SAGE in a move to reassure worried parents and teachers about its plan to re-open schools on June 1.

The documents – which also confirmed the risk of children catching coronavirus was “much lower” than adults – were released as militant teaching unions and councils prepared to defy the government and refuse to go back.