Travellers may have to pay for two weeks in hotel quarantine

HOTEL groups have begun talks with government officials over their facilities being used as quarantine centres, as it emerged last night that ministers have discussed tighter border controls that could bar foreign travellers.

Whitehall sources confirmed that “early discussions” had been held over adopting an Australian-style border system, following reports over the weekend that people could be forced to pay to stay in a hotel for two weeks while observing a self-isolation period.

It comes amid reports that ministers are increasingly concerned that as the vaccine programme progresses and socalled “herd immunity” increases, the virus will come under greater pressure to evolve and mutate. To minimise the risk of importing these potential strains from abroad, tighter controls would be implemented, which would restrict entry criteria, with those still permitted to enter asked to quarantine in a hotel or secure facility, reported The Spectator.

Last night one government insider suggested it would be a “highly popular policy”. They pointed to yesterday’s latest UK death toll of 1,820 people – the highest since the pandemic began – adding that the public were increasingly supportive of tightening restrictions.

However, a Downing Street source strongly pushed back against the suggestion that foreign travellers could be denied entry in the future, adding that there was “no prospect” of it happening. A government source confirmed that officials had now begun “engaging” a number of hotel groups as part of forward planning should the policy be adopted.

It came as a leaked tape, published by the Guido Fawkes website, revealed that Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, told Conservative supporters on Tuesday she was at odds with the Government delaying the closure of the border when the outbreak began last spring.

Ms Patel publicly defended the Government’s course of action yesterday and insisted ministers had followed scientific advice.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We have strong measures at the border in place which are vital as we roll out the vaccine.”