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International travel has been cited as the key factor in driving higher death rates during the first wave of the pandemic, according to a new study.
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen found border arrivals to be the 'strongest predictor of mortality increase' in the worst-hit countries, compared to other factors examined; including population density, the percentage of people living in urban areas, age, average body mass index and smoking prevalence.
Tiberiu Pana, medical student and author of the study, said: "Our assessment of available data indicates that very early restrictions on international travel might have made a difference in the spread of the pandemic in western Europe, including the UK."
However, in December European health authorities urged EU governments to end mandatory testing and quarantine for air travellers, stating that such measures are 'unlikely' to halt the spread of Covid-19 in communities where the virus is already established.
The British Government is today under increased pressure to announce a concrete plan for the implementation of quarantine hotels, as a mandatory requirement for all arrivals from 'high-risk' countries where concerning variants of the virus have been identified.
Matt Hancock will lay out the "operational plan" next week, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi confirmed this morning as he defended the delay in action yet again.
Meanwhile, the Government has been accused of keeping a major hotels chain 'in the dark' over the road map, despite offers of help being made several days ago.
Best Western Hotels chief Rob Paterson told the Today show: "Other than very broad information about what timings they're thinking about and who is handling it we haven't had any discussions at all."
Scroll down for more of the latest.
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09:57 AMGovernment should have rolled out quarantine hotels 'a long time ago', says Yvette Cooper
Senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper has joined the fray, arguing that the Government should have done the work to rollout quarantine hotels "a long time ago".
Cooper, chairwoman of the home affairs select committee, told Radio 4's Today programme it was "troubling they don't seem to be talking to some of the major hotel chains already."
She added:
We've always been warned about both second waves and new variants; the work should have been done a long time ago.
The problem is, of course, as long as we're waiting, not just for this system but for stronger measures, we know that the system isn't working at the moment.
We can see that because the South Africa variant is spreading across the country, that's the evidence that too many cases are getting into the country, then spreading in the country.
09:55 AM'Insurance and security staff' among concerns over hotel quarantine logistics
More criticism over the ongoing saga. Here's what Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy, The PC Agency, has to say:
09:50 AMThe full story: Best Western 'left in the dark' over hotel quarantine plans
The boss of one of Britain's biggest hotel chains revealed his company had been 'left in the dark' by the Government on their quarantine plans a week after they were announced, Charles Hymas reports.
Rob Paterson, chief executive of Best Western, said he would be out of job if he had handled the quarantine hotel plans in such a disorganised way.
As vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi admitted a delay in the roll-out of the hotels, Mr Paterson said he had not "heard anything" from the Government "other than very broad information" about timings and who was handling it despite making multiple offers.
An announcement on the policy by Health Secretary Matt Hancock had been flagged for Thursday by Boris Johnson at his Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, but has been postponed until next week.
Read the full story here.
09:45 AMBest Western hotels boss slams Government over quarantine communications
A hotel chain boss has criticised a lack of communication from the Government over quarantining international arrivals in hotels.
Rob Paterson, chief executive of Best Western hotels, told the Today programme:
We got the understanding that quarantine hotels was something going to be considered in the UK quite some time ago and we're yet to understand exactly what the protocols are required of the hotels.
We've set out a set of protocols, suggested protocols, we've shared that information, and we've offered our support and we're yet to hear anything.
I think in any normal company if you went out and announced a programme nationally and you hadn't thought about how you were going to plan that and you hadn't spoken to the people involved, I'm not sure I'd have a job if I did that in my company.
To this day we simply haven't heard anything despite multiple offers.
© Reutersbest western - reuters
09:43 AMMatt Hancock to set out plan for hotel quarantine next week
Matt Hancock will lay out the "operational plan" for hotel quarantines next week, Nadhim Zahawi as confirmed, as he defended the delay in action yet again.
The vaccines minister told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "Next week the Secretary of State for Health will be setting out the operational elements of this policy. We will absolutely be setting out how the quarantine hotels will work next week."
Asked whether he had been frustrated by the delay in implementing the tighter border restrictions, Mr Zahawi replied: "No, because it is one part of a greater piece.
"(There is) the passenger locator form - you will be refused by the airlines to get on a flight if you haven't filled in a passenger locator form - so we know exactly where you are, so we can check where you are and that you are quarantined, and you get fined - and I make no apology for the 40,000 fines that we've issued already.
"But, as I say, it is one part, and next week you will have the operational plan for how we are implementing the hotel quarantine."
08:37 AMWhat happened yesterday?
A quick recap of the key developments:
- Sweden: Covid-19 test now required for arrivals from abroad
- Airbnb to partner with... Dettol
- Government will not fund travellers' quarantine
- More countries could be added to hotel quarantine list
- Sturgeon: 'I should have been tougher on travel rules'