Under the latest controversial directive this has to be done by 15 February but an earlier request from the chief inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) asked for accommodation proposals by 19 February.  (See BTN 1 February)


UK residents returning from Covid-19 hotspots will need to spend 10 nights in a hotel room. The Government is asking hotel owners to provide rooms for more than 1,000 people per day. Just hours after the start date of the scheme was announced, the Government has already set about block-booking thousands of hotel rooms.

Guests will be escorted by government-approved security guards when they leave their rooms.  The cost of the hotel stay will fall on the arriving passenger and there will be no exemptions.

The Government says discussions with transport and hospitality industry are already underway and commercial specification issued to hotels with the health secretary chairing a new Cabinet sub-committee, working closely with former vice chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Gordon Messenger.  Whitehall says discussions with Australia and New Zealand have taken place to share expertise on quarantining.  Last week the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) issued a commercial specification to hotels near ports and airports, asking for proposals on how they can support the delivery of Managed Quarantine Facilities ahead of formal contracts being awarded.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care