NEW: I understand the government will announce tomorrow that ALL passengers arriving in UK will have to be tested for Covid on days 2 and 8 after they arrive.

So that’s not just those arriving from red zone countries heading into hotel quarantine, but those isolating at home.

Announcement comes as part of the government’s broader package of measures to quarantine arrivals.

Many will ask why mandatory testing wasn’t introduced over a year ago, when the virus first arrived in the UK. And if govt is so concerned about variants, why not ban all arrivals?

On the flip side the airline industry worries this will be the final nail in the coffin.

One source suggests that short-haul flights will all but end.

“Demand will be nil. Wouldn’t be surprised if EasyJet grounded its fleet”.

Dept of Health says:

“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”

So to be clear:

1. ALL arrivals must have a negative Covid test within past 72 hours taken abroad. They must also test for Covid here on days 2 and 8 of their self-isolation.

2. Those coming from red zone countries do the above but quarantine in hotels which they cannot leave.

Officially the government is still not confirming the exact timing of the quarantine announcement. Airline and hotel industries are expecting details tomorrow but possible it may slip beyond then. DHSC simply say announcement “shortly”.

We expect the policy to come in from February 15th, which is when compulsory hotel quarantine for countries on the red list also comes in.

Couple more details coming through tonight:

- Quarantine hotels, transfers and tests will be booked as a package via an online hotel booking system.

- Tests for those isolating at home will be paid for by the passenger too.