Today we will lay before Parliament the public health measures to be imposed at the UK border from next week – preventing the import of new coronavirus cases from abroad, reducing the risk of a second wave of the virus and keeping people safe.
- Now that we have reduced the rate of transmission within the UK, we must manage the risk of cases being imported from abroad and undoing the hard work and sacrifice of the British people over recent months.
- From 8 June, everyone arriving in the UK, bar a short list of exemptions, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will do so. While we fully expect the majority of people will abide by the measures, Public Health England will contact people to check they are complying. Those who are not can be fined up to £1,000.
- To ensure the measures are in line with the latest scientific evidence and remain effective and necessary, they will be reviewed every three weeks. The Government will also explore ways to safely increase travel, including travel corridors or air-bridges, to and from countries with low transmission rates, but only when it’s safe to do so.
- The worst outcome for public health and our economy would be a second peak of the virus, which is why we are introducing these temporary, necessary measures to keep people safe
