Officials are considering banning UK residents from returning home if they don't have a clean Covid-19 test, the Mirror understands.
The Government is finalising plans to tighten up border restrictions, which are expected to include pre-flight tests for anyone entering the country.
Asked whether UK residents would be included in the rules, Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference: “We will be bringing in measures to ensure that we test people coming into this country and prevent the virus from being readmitted.”
But there has been disagreement between departments over whether only foreign visitors or all people arriving in the UK, including residents, to be required to supply a negative test up to 72 hours before departure.
If agreed, it would mean British nationals who travelled overseas for Christmas could be prevented from returning home until they can provide a negative test.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Protecting public health in the UK is of the utmost importance and we are looking at what additional measures could be taken with regards to international travel."
Hauliers would be exempt from the plans being discussed by officials and ministers today.
Currently arrivals into England from nations that are not exempted under the travel corridor programme have to isolate for 10 days.
But under the test and release scheme introduced in December, this can be shortened if they have a private test five days after their departure and it comes back negative.
Meanwhile, holiday operators Tui UK and Thomas Cook said they were contacting customers to offer to move their breaks or give refunds, in light of the latest lockdown.
