A mandatory requirement that electronic tags be worn by international arrivals for up to 10 days to ensure they abided by Covid-19 quarantine restrictions was an option explored by the Home Office under controversial plans, the Guardian has learned.
The details, understood to have been included in a draft “borders enforcement” policy paper produced by Priti Patel’s department, have emerged as the UK government’s Covid-O committee is preparing to meet on Friday to discuss implementing further travel restrictions. Australia-style quarantine hotels for arrivals or an extension of travel bans are under consideration by ministers.
It follows Boris Johnson unveiling tougher travel curbs last week, suspending the travel corridors system so people arriving from a list of formerly exempt countries could no longer avoid quarantine. Travellers also have to demonstrate they have had a negative Covid test before flying to the UK. Separately, a ban on travellers from South America and Portugal came into effect last Friday in response to concerns about a new coronavirus variant in Brazil.
The Guardian understands that a draft nine-page “borders enforcement” Home Office policy paper circulating in Whitehall this week included the option of “tagging” travellers to keep track of them during the 10-day quarantine period. A similar policy was introduced in Singapore last summer to ensure arrivals who stayed in their own accommodation, rather than a state-appointed facility, were keeping to quarantine rules.
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