Quarantine hotels will be enforced in Scotland
OVERSEAS travellers arriving in Scotland will be forced to stay in quarantine hotels as part of an attempt to suppress coronavirus.
John Swinney said yesterday the Scottish Government would go ‘at least as far’ as UK ministers when it comes to restrictions, signalling tougher measures than south of the Border.
The Deputy First Minister has called for a ‘four nations’ approach to new rules, which are likely to mean that people travelling from abroad will have to stay in a hotel room for ten days after their arrival. This could cost £1,500 and be at their own expense.
Ministers have not yet set out details of how quarantine hotels will work, but it is thought they could be modelled on those already in use in countries such as Australia.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to make a statement today on the use of quarantine hotels – a move that could throw plans for summer holidays into chaos.
It is understood the UK Cabinet is split on whether to require all international travellers to selfisolate in hotels, or only those from countries with mutant variants of coronavirus, such as Brazil and South Africa.
Mr Swinney told MSPs yesterday that the Scottish Government now believes ‘a comprehensive system of supervised quarantine is required’ in order to prevent the importation of virus cases.
Giving an update to Holyrood, he said lockdown did appear to be suppressing the virus, but that the position ‘remains precarious’.
He confirmed that the present lockdown restrictions will stay in place until at least the middle of next month, before disclosing that planning is under way for tougher measures for overseas arrivals.
He said: ‘We have engaged with the UK Government for some time on improving border controls and while we have had some discussions on issues such as quarantine hotels, we have not yet been sighted on what the UK Government intends to announce or when it intends to announce it.’
While stressing that border controls ‘will work best on a foureven nations basis’, Mr Swinney admitted that Scotland could impose tougher restrictions if ministers believe the UK Government has not gone far enough.
He warned that if a different system was brought in north of the Border it ‘could be problematic if unrestricted travel between Scotland and England resumes’.
Mr Swinney said: ‘The Scottish Government believes that a comprehensive system of supervised quarantine is required.
‘I can confirm the Scottish Government will initially go at least as far as any UK Government announcement in enhancing quarantine arrangements, including through the use of hotels.
‘However, if these UK restrictions are at a minimal level, we will look at other controls we can announce – including additional supervised quarantine measures – that can further protect us from importation of the virus, and we will set those out next week.’
It is understood Boris Johnson was to sign off quarantine hotel plans for the UK last night.
The move will mean travellers transported from their port of entry, such as an airport, to their hotel, with the Government providing the transport. However, arrivals will have to pay the cost of their hotel room – estimated to be about £1,500 – and will have no say on where they stay.
In Australia, travellers are forced to remain inside their hotel room if it does not have an opening window or balcony.
The Deputy First Minister also pressed the UK Government to provide support to the aviation industry, which will be further affected by any restrictions placed on travel into the country, adding that any support from Westminster would be passed on to the sector in Scotland.
Mr Swinney was challenged by Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie to go further, allowing hotel stays for people forced to selfisolate in the community.
Mr Harvie said the initiative had proved successful in other countries, and should be put into place in Scotland.
Mr Swinney said the Scottish parliament would be updated ‘at the earliest possible opportunity’ on the use of hotels.
‘Go at least as far as UK Government’ ‘Additional measures’