Travellers from Brazil and South Africa and their neighbouring countries will be forced to quarantine in hotels for 10 days on arrival, according to the Mail on Sunday. They will be escorted to their quarantine quarters by special officials. The passengers will also have to pay for their rooms during their period of confinement.
The measures are expected to be finalised at a meeting of the Covid-O committee that will be chaired by the Prime Minister on Sunday.
However, the government has emphasised that it has no plans to completely close the country’s borders to outsiders.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said there was “no such thing as closing the border entirely”.
He added: “You always have to ensure you have a system where nationals can return.”
The Prime Minister has faced strong criticism throughout the pandemic over his handling of quarantine for travellers.
It was only in June before Number 10 introduced the first requirements for people arriving from certain countries to quarantine.
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Anyone not abiding by the terms of their quarantine will face stiff fines.
A government source said the checks will be carried out either by the police or Public Health England officials.
The Home Secretary Priti Patel is said to be one of those in the Cabinet pushing for the stricter measures.
