Labour attacks ‘half-baked’ targeted Covid quarantine policy

A targeted quarantine policy is “half-baked” and leaves the UK’s vaccination programme open to as-yet unknown strains of coronavirus that could set back the country’s progress, Labour has warned.

Strict new quarantine rules in hotels are expected to be announced later after ministers meet to sign off the proposals on Tuesday evening, with the prime minister favouring a targeted approach that would impose hotel quarantine on British citizens from a limited number of countries such as South Africa and Brazil.

The meeting will consider a number of options and ministers including Priti Patel and Matt Hancock are expected to argue for a more blanket approach – or a wider number of countries on the list.