Travellers arriving in the UK will be quarantined for two weeks and will be fined £ 1,000 if they break the rules. That was clarified by Home Secretary Priti Patel, who brought the details of the new quarantine system at the government’s daily press conference on Friday.

The plan, which comes into force on June 8, is designed to prevent travellers from bringing the coronavirus to the country after being infected abroad. The measure is evaluated every three weeks, along with other government measures against the coronavirus.

“We are taking this measure at a time when it will be most effective,” said Patel. “Now that this virus has peaked, we need to take steps to protect ourselves from imported cases.”

The quarantine measure affects all international arrivals, including those from returning British. The government said there would be some exceptions, including truck drivers and health workers travelling to help fight the corona virus and those from Ireland.

Transport minister Grant Shapps said on Monday that ministers are considering “airlifts” to allow quarantine-free travel to and from countries with a low number of virus infections, but Patel said it is too early for that.

The bosses of the airlines have said that the measures will have serious consequences.

“Introducing quarantine at this stage is pointless and will at best represent very limited international aviation,” said Tim Alderslade, of Industry Body Airlines UK.