AFTER nearly a year since the Covid pandemic began, the government has introduced compulsory quarantine for people coming into the UK from high-risk countries. 

From Monday, February 15, arrivals from 33 countries deemed "high-risk" must quarantine in hotels or risk up to 10 years in jail or a hefty £10,000 fine.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has defended plans for prison sentences after criticisms the penalty for those who lie about their movements are “disproportionate”.

But Mr Shapps said "strong action” was needed to get ahead of the virus, with new mutations potentially undermining the vaccination programme.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Tuesday that people returning to England from 33 “red list” destinations would have to pay £1,750 to quarantine for 10 days in government-designated hotels.

Some 16 hotels have been contracted to provide 4,600 rooms for the quarantine programme, which begins on Monday.

Travellers must still have a negative Covid test to enter the UK.

Here’s the full list of countries affected: 

  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Burundi
  • Cape Verde
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Ecuador
  • Eswatini
  • French Guiana
  • Guyana
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • South Africa
  • Suriname
  • Tanzania
  • Uruguay
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Venezuela
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe