UK Covid quarantine: Travellers who ‘hid’ routes fined £10k each

Four passengers arriving in the UK have been fined £10,000 each for failing to tell authorities that they came from a ‘red-list’ country. 

The passengers landed at Birmingham Airport where they ‘attempted to hide their routes’, West Midlands Police revealed.  

Police have not said where the four people arrived from, but they were ‘identified and received £10,000 fines as a result’.

Arrivals from 33 ‘red list’ countries now have to pay £1,750 to quarantine in a hotel for ten days – or face a £10,000 fine.

Passengers who lie about where they came from on their passenger locator forms could be hit with a 10-year jail sentence.

The passengers landed at Birmingham Airport where they ‘attempted to hide their routes’, West Midlands Police revealed (file image)

Police have not revealed where the four people arrived from, but they were 'identified and received £10,000 fines as a result'. Pictured: A woman arrived at Birmingham Airport after the hotel quarantine programme came into effect

Police have not revealed where the four people arrived from, but they were ‘identified and received £10,000 fines as a result’. Pictured: A woman arrived at Birmingham Airport after the hotel quarantine programme came into effect

West Midlands Police temporary Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said: ‘By midday yesterday, on the first day of implementation, we have received six passengers who had declared travelling from a red list country, who were taken to the quarantine hotel. 

What are the rules for entering Britain? 

  • You cannot enter the UK if you’ve been in or through a country on the banned travel list (known as the ‘red list’) in the last 10 days, unless you’re British, Irish or you have the right to live in the UK
  • Those travelling to England must take two tests after arriving. You must either quarantine where you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days
  • What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive – if you travel in or through a country on the banned travel list within 10 days, you must stay managed quarantine hotel; if not, you can quarantine at home
  • You need to provide your journey and contact details in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK. You must do this by completing the online passenger locator form
  • You’ll need to show proof that you’ve completed the form when you arrive at the UK border as well as proof of a negative test taken three days before departure 
  • You could be fined £500 when you arrive at the border if you cannot provide proof that you have had a negative coronavirus test
  • You do not need a test if you’re travelling within the UK, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey; from Ireland; from Ascension, Falkland Islands or St Helena; and children under 11 do not need a test 
  • In Scotland, arrivals from all international destinations have to quarantine, even if they are not on the red list. 

‘We also had four passengers who were identified as having travelled from a red list country, that hadn’t declared it.’

The group are understood to have been fined individually, The Sun reports.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said information about where the group arrived from and whether or not they were travelling together will not be released.

A statement read: ‘West Midlands Police has a proportionate increase in policing at the airport in order to support checks with regards to essential only travel.

‘Fines for breaches for those entering the country and in breach of Covid regulations are issued by UK Border Force police.

‘The safety of passengers is a key priority for us and we will continue to engage with passengers to ensure they are only at the airport for essential purposes and encouraging those without good reason to be there, to go home.

‘Enforcement will be used as a last resort for those who fail to comply with the regulations.’  

Countries on the ‘red list’ include Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal and South Africa.

And the list is set to ‘get longer before it gets shorter’ due to the Government’s concern over the spread of new variants in nations not already on the list.

At least four countries are reporting more than 30 cases of the Brazilian and South African variants. 

They include Austria, which has seen 300 positive tests, and Belgium, with 55 – putting them at risk of being added to the list. 

A further 33 countries where mutant strains have been found are not on the list. 

These include Denmark, France, Greece, Japan, Kenya, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada and the United States.

Today, it emerged that travellers from red list countries face an additional £1,200 bill on top of the original £1,750 if they test positive during their stay. 

Meanwhile, concerns have again been raised about the safety of the current system.  

Britain has banned flights from all ‘red list’ countries, so passengers must take connecting flights, mixing with passengers from countries not on the list.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds claimed the policy ‘creates an unacceptable risk to the health of the British people’. 

More countries are expected to be added to the 'red list' due to the spread of new variants, airports have been told. Pictured are arrivals at the Heathrow Holiday Inn today

More countries are expected to be added to the ‘red list’ due to the spread of new variants, airports have been told. Pictured are arrivals at the Heathrow Holiday Inn today 

Security escort passengers as they arrive at the Holiday Inn near Heathrow today to begin their ten-day quarantine period

Security escort passengers as they arrive at the Holiday Inn near Heathrow today to begin their ten-day quarantine period 

At least four countries are reporting more than 30 cases of the Brazilian and South African variants. They include Austria, which has seen 300 positive tests, and Belgium, with 55 - putting them at risk of being added to the list

At least four countries are reporting more than 30 cases of the Brazilian and South African variants. They include Austria, which has seen 300 positive tests, and Belgium, with 55 – putting them at risk of being added to the list

Travellers in hotels face an ADDITIONAL £1,200 bill on top of original £1,750 charge if they test positive during stay 

Travellers from ‘red list’ countries who test positive for coronavirus during their compulsory 10 day stay in a quarantine hotel face an additional £1,200 bill, it emerged today.

All arrivals in England from 33 banned countries must book a stay in Government-approved accommodation at an initial cost of £1,750.

However, people who test positive for the disease will be forced to extend their stay and they must pick up the tab for the additional days spent in self-isolation.

The additional daily rate has been set at £152 and it was only published on the Government’s website on Monday, after some guests had already checked in.

Guests must take two tests during their stay, one on day two and one on day eight, and they can leave when they receive a negative result and once they have quarantined for 10 full days.

But a positive result from the first test will extend a traveller’s stay by two nights at an additional cost of £304.

It also emerged that Border Force staff were only emailed official guidance about how to execute the new rules two and a half hours before they came into force. 

Officers received a lengthy message with five attachments at 9.25pm on Sunday – giving them barely any time to prepare for their implementation at midnight. 

One Border Force member at Heathrow called the process ‘an absolute joke’, as sources said many guards had not read the email by the time they started their shifts on Monday.

And London mayor Sadiq Khan also tore into Home Secretary Priti Patel over the quarantine system, which he branded a ‘big failure’.

The Labour politician was asked on Good Morning Britain whether he had full confidence in Ms Patel after she failed to back the head of the Metropolitan Police in an interview last week. 

His response was to stop and chuckle before laying into the senior minister. 

‘I don’t like to be discourteous or impolite to colleagues, even from other parties,’ he said.

‘I think Priti Patel’s track record as a Home Sec won’t be a great one in relation to what she’s not done to address some of the concerns we had around the hostile environment, I think she has not addressed the concerns we have got in relation to our borders, I think the quarantine policies have been a big failure and I don’t think she has given the police the resources they need.’  

Travellers arriving in England must quarantine in a hotel if they have been in one of the Government’s 33 ‘red list’ countries in the past 10 days.

Under the new rules, immigration control staff must check each traveller’s completed passenger locator form and hotel quarantine booking.

They must also verify passengers have received a negative Covid test, along with evidence of two additional test bookings for their 10-day quarantine period.

Most of the red-listed nations are in southern Africa and south America, but airports have been told to expect more to be added as analysis showed the Brazilian and South African variants are already spreading in other countries. 

These include Austria, which has imposed strict new internal travel controls after an outbreak of 300 cases, and Belgium, which has seen 55 people test positive. 

Last week the Home Secretary refused to back under-pressure Met Police chief Dame Cressica Dick as the UK's top cop faced pressure over a botched probe into a VIP paedophile ring

Last week the Home Secretary refused to back under-pressure Met Police chief Dame Cressica Dick as the UK’s top cop faced pressure over a botched probe into a VIP paedophile ring

The Labour politician was asked on Good Morning Britain whether he had full confidence in Ms Patel. His response was to laugh

The Labour politician was asked on Good Morning Britain whether he had full confidence in Ms Patel. His response was to laugh

First travellers to face new Scottish quarantine rules are told to leave hotel ‘due to error’ 

The first travellers to face new Scottish hotel quarantine rules have been told they are allowed to leave their hotel after a day due to an ‘error’.

Chun Wong arrived at Edinburgh Airport on Monday with his eight-year-old daughter Kiernan, having caught a connecting flight in Ireland from the US.

He was among the first to face new rules which force people flying into Scotland on international flights to self-isolate in a quarantine hotel room for 10 days.

Early arrivals at Edinburgh airport today

Mr Yong arrives at Edinburgh airport with his daughter, Kiernan 

But the rules are specifically for those arriving on direct flights into Scotland and do not include those coming from within the Common Travel Area, including the UK and Ireland.

This meant Mr Wong, who arrived from a connecting flight in Dublin, did not have to quarantine.

According to the BBC, hotel staff told Mr Wong there had been an ‘error’. Mr Wong is now due to leave the hotel today and will instead be forced to quarantine at home.

The clerical blunder will be a blow to Nicola Sturgeon’s claims of a ‘tougher’ quarantine system in Scotland – introduced after the First Minister claimed England’s measures did ‘not go far enough’.

Speaking to the BBC, the father-of-one Mr Wong said: ‘(The hotel) said that since I landed in Dublin first and then got a connecting flight to here, I was not required to quarantine in a hotel. 

A senior airport source told The Telegraph: ‘The ”red list” is going to get longer before it gets shorter, which was disheartening to hear. The Government does seem to be fixated on the idea of quarantining against variants.

‘Given the scientific argument is that border controls are more important the fewer cases we have, there is danger we end up in a position like New Zealand.  

‘They have low prevalence but there is a real debate and fear about reopening. They have no exit strategy.’

A Government spokesman said: ‘We are in a global pandemic which is why every traveller is subject to enhanced monitoring at UK airports.

‘People should not be travelling unless absolutely necessary. Every check from pre-departure testing, to the passenger locator form is to strengthen our borders and prevent the spread of coronavirus.

‘Border Force operational guidance on the measures has been issued and is regularly updated to ensure staff are supported on how to apply the new guidance.’

Some of the first guests to check into quarantine hotels have expressed their frustration at the tougher border rules and the cost of their accommodation. 

One traveller quarantining at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel near Heathrow Airport said he was ‘feeling sad’ at the prospect of isolating for 11 nights.

Delivery driver Roger Goncalves, 23, who lives in London, said: ‘I did my test for coronavirus. The test was negative. Why do I need to stay in my room?’

He explained he had tried to fly back from Brazil last week – before the requirement to quarantine in a hotel was in place – but his airline cancelled his flight.

He described the £1,750 cost of staying in the hotels as ‘crazy’.

Asked how he will spend the time in his room, Mr Goncalves said he would ‘watch TV, watch Netflix’.

Another traveller who checked into the hotel on Monday was Zari Tadayon, 66, from north London, who had been in Dubai to attend to ‘legal matters’.

She said: ‘I feel horrible because I live here, I have my own individual home, and also I have some medical issues which I was hoping they would consider that.

‘How I’m going to cope I don’t know. It’s going to be tough. I’m not prepared. I didn’t bring books and stuff.’

Meanwhile a father and daughter who went into hotel quarantine in Scotland yesterday were allowed to leave after a day due to a loophole with their arrival. 

All passengers arriving in Scotland on international flights have to enter ‘managed isolation’, unless they are coming from within the Common Travel Area, which includes the UK and Ireland. 

Officials wheel luggage into the Heathrow Holiday Inn this morning after the latest travellers arrived from red list countries

Officials wheel luggage into the Heathrow Holiday Inn this morning after the latest travellers arrived from red list countries 

A passenger carrying a child leaves a coach as he arrives at the Holiday Inn this morning for a ten-day quarantine period

A passenger carrying a child leaves a coach as he arrives at the Holiday Inn this morning for a ten-day quarantine period 

There are 16 hotels near airports in England that are preparing to take quarantining passengers as part of the new government scheme, including the Heathrow Holiday Inn (seen today)

There are 16 hotels near airports in England that are preparing to take quarantining passengers as part of the new government scheme, including the Heathrow Holiday Inn (seen today) 

Security staff accompany people from the terminal to the hotel to ensure that everyone is complying. Picture taken today

Security staff accompany people from the terminal to the hotel to ensure that everyone is complying. Picture taken today 

Chun Wong told BBC Scotland he and his daughter flew into the country from the United States via Dublin, and went straight to a hotel at Edinburgh Airport.

Mr Wong told the broadcaster: ‘I received a call from reception saying a gentleman from the airport would like to talk to me.

‘He said that since I landed in Dublin first and then got a connecting flight to here, I was not required to quarantine in a hotel.

‘I still have to quarantine and do the self-testing kit on the second and eighth day, but they said it was an error on their part.’

Dozens of people are now quarantining inside Heathrow's Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel. Pictured is a photo taken today of one of the rooms occupied by one adult

Dozens of people are now quarantining inside Heathrow’s Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel. Pictured is a photo taken today of one of the rooms occupied by one adult 

The rooms at the Radisson Blu - like this one pictured today - include TVs and a kettle, while aeroplane-style hot food is dropped off at the door

The rooms at the Radisson Blu – like this one pictured today – include TVs and a kettle, while aeroplane-style hot food is dropped off at the door 

A bathroom inside the Radisson Blu seen today. Yesterday one hotel director said he would supply branded soaps to make the accommodation feel 'more homely'

A bathroom inside the Radisson Blu seen today. Yesterday one hotel director said he would supply branded soaps to make the accommodation feel ‘more homely’ 

The rules are specifically for those arriving on direct flights to Scotland and do not include those coming from within the Common Travel Area, including the UK and Ireland.

This meant father-of-one Chun Wong, who arrived in Edinburgh yesterday from the US, having caught a connecting flight in Dublin with his daughter Kiernan, did not have to quarantine. 

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has expressed concern about gaps in the current system for international arrivals, telling a coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh yesterday: ‘It would be better if we had that four nations approach, or at least a three nations approach where the border of the island that Scotland, England and Wales share, had the same provisions in place.’ 

Meanwhile, residents of the quarantine hotels have complained about the size of food portions and pleaded with staff to move rooms because their view is so depressing. 

Brazilian couple Wagner Araujo, 43, is staying with his wife Elaine, 40, at the Radisson Blu hotel close to Heathrow Airport after arriving from Brazil on Monday, where they will spend the next ten days confined to their room.

He told MailOnline that in addition to the rotten view from their window, the couple were so hungry by the modest portion of their first meal that they had to order a takeaway McDonalds at 11pm to stop their bellies from aching with hunger.

Mr Araujo told MailOnline: ‘It was only our first day, but the view was already getting us down. It made us feel very depressed and glum.

Wagner Araujo, 43, a removal man, aand his wife Elaine, 40, are stuck in hotel quarantine following a trip to Brazil

Wagner Araujo, 43, a removal man, aand his wife Elaine, 40, are stukfollowing a trip to Brazil

‘All we can see is another part of the hotel, it’s not very inspiring and I don’t think we could have taken it for the next ten days. I asked the hotel management if they could move us to a front facing room, which they have agreed to do and that’s very kind of them.’

Mr Araujo’s new room will offer views of a busy main road and one of Heathrow’s runways.

He smirked: ‘It’s better than looking at roof tops of buildings that form part of the hotel. I would rather watch traffic going past and planes landing or taking off, that’s a lot more interesting.’

Mr Araujo revealed that their first night in the hotel was not helped by their evening meal of pasta and salmon.

He said: ‘We love our food and enjoy eating well. The meal was very healthy and tasted nice but there was just not enough of it. 

Elaine drawing images in the steamed window

The couple complained about the food portions being too small

The couple complained that the view from their hotel room was not good (pictured left, Elaine next to a window), while they also said the food portions were to small (pictured right)

‘So, Elaine and I ordered a McDonald’s chicken select meal at 11pm, which was delivered to our room.

‘We’re not big fans of fast food but I have to say that was the best McDonald’s we’ve ever had. We felt nice and full up and actually had a great night.’

After eating, Elaine went to sleep while Mr Araujo, who works as removal man, stayed up until 1.30am playing FIFA on his PlayStation 4, which had been delivered to him by a friend so that he could while away the quarantine hours.

The couple were left so hungry after the small portions they said they were forced to order a McDonald's takeaway meal to their hotel room

The couple were left so hungry after the small portions they said they were forced to order a McDonald’s takeaway meal to their hotel room

An avid Tottenham fan, he added: ‘Getting my PS4 has made me really happy. I’ll be able to watch films and I also love playing FIFA, so you can guess what I’ll be doing for most of the next ten days.’

Elaine, 40, who works as a secretary, has had her laptop delivered and is planning to spend quarantine working.

Wagner Araujo, 43, a removal man, has lived in London for 20 years with his wife Elaine, 40

Wagner Araujo, 43, a removal man, has lived in London for 20 years with his wife Elaine, 40

She said: ‘I’m happy that Wagner’s got his PS4 because it’ll keep him occupied and means that I’ll be able to get on with some work. I’ve actually been quite busy since this morning dealing with work calls and emails.

‘Wagner normally doesn’t have much free time, so I think he’s looking forward to spending the whole day playing FIFA and watching films.’

The couple moved to the UK 20 years ago and went to Brazil on January 11 to visit a sick relative. They were supposed to stay for only two weeks, but their return flight got cancelled, meaning they were unable to get back before the Government’s hotel quarantine deadline.

The couple have four children, aged between 17 and 6, who are being looked after by a relative at their home in Finchley, North London.

Despite the challenges facing them over the next ten days, Wagner revealed that he and Elaine are planning to make the most of it by ‘getting romantic’ as often as possible.

He said: ‘We’ve got busy lives and four kids, so are going to make the most of this time together locked away in this room.

‘We were very tired on our first night after a very long, 20-hour flight but let’s just say that we found some time for romance. And I think we’ll be doing a lot of that over the next few days.’