People who lie about having travelled to the government’s so-called ‘red list’ of coronavirus hot spot countries will face up to ten years behind bars, putting the offence on par with possession of a firearm with intent, making threats to kill, and poisoning.
Speaking before the House of Commons, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Anyone who lies on a passenger locator form and tries to conceal that they’ve been in a country on our red list in the 10 days before arrival here will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.”
Travellers will be required to stay in quarantine hotels for 10 days, which will cost GBP1,750 per person. Mr Hancock said that “people will need to remain in their rooms and will not be allowed to mix with other guests”.
“When passengers arrive, they’ll be escorted to their UK Government transport and taken to a designated hotel, which will be closed to guests who aren’t quarantining,” the Health Secretary explained.
The move was also questioned by travel industry leaders, fearful that the already struggling sector may further be damaged by the draconian measures.
The CEO of travel consultants The PC Agency, Paul Charles, told the Dail Mail: “Mass traveller testing alone is to be welcomed as it enables Government to stay one step ahead of possible new variants, but adding several layers of complexity to travel will stall any economic recovery.”
“What is the exit route out of this? Travel cannot work on the short-term whim of Government,” he warned.
