Travellers arriving into the UK from Spain and the USA could be forced to quarantine as the Government is considering adding the countries to the 'red list', it has been reported.
The Cabinet Covid Operations Committee will decide on the risk of new variants from Spain and the USA and decide if they will be added to the 10-day hotel isolation on arrival list, the Telegraph reports.
Department of Health and Social Care spokesman told the Telegraph : “If more countries are added to the ‘red list’, and passenger numbers from ‘red list’ countries start to increase, then we are prepared to put in place managed quarantine facilities at the required airports.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, and have extensive contingency plans dependent on the changing situation.”
Both the USA and Spain have recorded transmissions of new variants, while Spain shares a border with Portugal, a country which is already on the list.
The countries could be added to the list this week, the Telegraph says.
Under the rules, travellers arriving into the UK from the 33 countries - which include South American nations, several African countries, Portugal and the UAE - must stay in a Government designated hotel for 10 days, at their own expense.
Direct flights between the countries and the UK are currently suspended.
