Travelers entering the UK from Red List countries that are in financial distress can apply for an exemption or discount on the cost of mandatory hotel quarantine, lawyers fighting the policy have announced.
In correspondence reviewed by the Guardian, UK government attorneys said the Department of Health and Welfare is “in the process of refining its system to allow people entering the managed quarantine system to be exempt or discounted for financial reasons can apply “. “.
It costs £ 1,750 for an adult to spend the required 10 days of quarantine in a room, additional adults cost £ 650 and children five to 11 years old are £ 325.
Travelers from Red List countries, which include India, Pakistan and Turkey, must pay for mandatory quarantine and face a fine of up to £ 10,000 or a 10-year prison sentence for failure to provide specifics about the countries they have visited.
The only significant financial hardship scheme currently available is the ability to apply for a deferred repayment schedule when booking, which repays the debt to the state in 12 monthly installments.
Law firm PGMBM requested a judicial review of the hotel quarantine policy that came into effect on February 15. The government is now requesting an eight-week suspension to enforce policy changes, including waiving or cutting costs for those in dire financial straits.
Taylor Burgess, a senior executive at PGMBM, said, “This policy was rushed through Parliament and passed without due consideration how its uniform application would punish vulnerable citizens and residents. We are very pleased that our challenge prompted the government to review the policy, but it remains frustrating that they have taken legal action to make changes.
“Many thousands of people have faced exorbitant costs in recent months or have been completely prevented from traveling or returning home due to the financial hardship they would face after paying the quarantine costs. Now the government wants eight weeks to change this flawed policy. Why does this have to drag on for those people and families who continue to suffer from the financial burden of quarantine costs and who unduly affect many more people? “
Burgess added, “We asked the government if they would undo the damage caused by this policy by retrospectively reviewing previously incurred costs. There are people who still suffer months after leaving quarantine, after borrowing or being forced into debt. “
The law firm hired attorneys Adam Wagner and Cian Murphy of Doughty Street Chambers to handle the challenge.
