From next week all travellers entering the UK will face two mandatory coronavirus tests following their arrival, the government is set to announce.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to announce the new measures in a Commons statement today (February 9).
The new rules will come into place from February 15 and will require all people arriving in the UK – whether quarantining in a hotel or at home – to take a PCR test on days two and eight after they arrive.
At current, people entering the UK are required to provide proof of a negative test taken no more than 72 hours before they arrive.
The Department of Health have said the 2 mandatory tests following arrival will provide a “further level of protection”.
Speaking to Sky News, a spokesperson for the Department Of Health said the measure will “provide a further level of protection”.
“Throughout the pandemic, the government has put in place proportionate measures, informed by the advice of scientists, that have led to some of the toughest border regimes in the world,” the spokesperson said.
“It is important the government continues to take the necessary steps to protect people and save lives.
“Enhancing our testing regime to cover all arrivals while they isolate will provide a further level of protection and enable us to better track any new cases which might be brought into the country, and give us even more opportunities to detect new variants.
“Further details of our mandatory quarantine and enhanced testing regime will be set out soon.”