The government is booking up thousands of rooms across the country as it prepares to officially open quarantine hotels for visitors to the UK.
From February 15, all passengers who enter Britain from ‘red list countries’ must isolate for 10 days in government-approved accommodation.
According to The Telegraph, the government is reserving 28,000 rooms in hotels near major British airports including Manchester.
Accommodation bosses are being asked to prepare for the arrival of as many as 1,425 passengers per day.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson first confirmed that ministers were looking into creating quarantine hotels back in January.
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The Labour party have accused the government of acting too slowly and “putting lives at risk”.
“It is beyond comprehension that these measures won’t even start until 15 February,” said shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds.
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“We are in a race against time to protect our borders against new COVID strains. Yet hotel quarantine will come in to force more than 50 days after the South African strain was discovered.”
But Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly told Sky News that hotels “need time to prepare” – including training staff and getting rooms ready.
Manchester Airpot / Image: Wikimedia Commons
Initial reports suggest that the government will cover the initial bill for any quarantine hotel stays and then recoup the money from people at a later date.
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Security guards will be assigned to every floor and will accompany guests if they go outside.
Hotels will provide three meals a day.
The quarantine measures are expected to cost more than £55 million and will remain in place until March 31.
The UK first closed its travel corridors on January 18 – requiring all visitors to self-isolate upon arrival, regardless of where they have come from.
All passengers are also required to take a negative COVID test result within 72 hours to be granted entry.
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Travel for non-essential purposes is banned until further notice.
Which countries are on the travel ban list?
Atoms / Unsplash
‘Red list countries’ are nations which are deemed higher risk, either due to COVID-19 rates or the presence of potentially more infectious variants.
All non-UK residents from red list countries are currently banned from entering Britain.
However, any British travellers returning from these countries can re-enter – but will be required to self-isolate for 10 days in the government’s quarantine hotels.
The full red list countries (as of 05/02) is as follows:
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Angola
Argentina
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ecuador
Eswatini
French Guiana
Guyana
Lesotho
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)
Rwanda
Seychelles
South Africa
Suriname
Tanzania
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
The procedure for booking rooms in government accommodation is expected to be outlined next week.
A literacy charity is making its way to Manchester bringing lots of FREE books
Thomas Melia
A charity dedicated to literacy is coming to Manchester in May providing families and individuals with plenty of free books.
Led by Bookbanks, this London-founded organisation was set up in line with food banks to provide people with access to free books and now they’re coming all the way to Manchester.
This charity started in 2022 all thanks to writer and journalist Emily Rhodes, who has read her fair share of books and wants to give this privilege to anyone who might not be able to get their hands on any.
The charity has seen widespread positive reception quickly expanding into Norfolk and is now partnering with various food banks in Manchester, marking the organisation’s first Northern venture.
Bookbanks gives out an average of 30 books per week, per site and has distributed over 5,000 books so far at food banks.
Crates being organised in Manchester food bank.Credit: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
Titled Bookbanks after the fact that they work very closely with food banks to provide books far and wide to food banks across the UK, they also host a range of interactive events.
Alongside all the fantastic work the team do, there’s a handful of free workshops and author events on offer for all ages and backgrounds, to further build the connection between people and their books.
Currently, there are two famous figures backing this book-based charity, Elizabeth Day and Andrew O’Hagan, both of which are no stranger to a pen and paper.
Day is an award-winning author who has written nine fiction and non-fiction books to date, while O’Hagan is Booker Prize nominated and is London Review of Books’ Editor-at-Large.
Bookbanks relies on the general public to spread their message further and there’s even a section on their website detailing how you can get involved to continue distributing books within food banks.
One of Bookbank’s many free author events, some of which will hopefully take place in Manchester.Credit: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
Whether you’re an avid runner or keen to try something new why not raise money for and be sponsored by Bookbanks, knowing you’ve done your bit to bring books to those who need them most.
If you don’t fancy lacing up those trainers and heading out for a run, why not donate any old books you’ve finished reading to this book-focused charity and allow others to discover a whole new world of reading.
Bookbanks first official Manchester site will launch on Friday 2 May at Manchester Central Food bank and a second site is already in talks at Greater Together Manchester’s Social Supermarket in Miles Platting.
To find out more ways to get involved as a company, publisher, member of public and more, you can find all information on their official site HERE.
Featured Image: Publicity Picture via Annabelle Williams
News
Touching tribute paid to man and his dog who died together in fatal collision
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man who was killed in a fatal collision last month, alongside his beloved dog, have paid tribute to him.
Andrew Old, 61, had been walking along Greenwood Road in Wythenshawe when he was struck by a vehicle that had been involved in a collision.
He had been waking his ‘lovely’ dog, Liddy, who also died at the scene.
Emergency services rushed to the scene on Sunday 9 March but tragically both Andrew and his beloved pet passed away.
Paying tribute to him, Andrew’s family said: “Andrew was our happy go lucky brother and he is so sadly missed by us all.
“We miss his smiles, his laughter, his jokes and his hourly phone calls.
“Words cannot describe the shock and disbelief that we feel due to the loss of Andrew, we are absolutely devastated.
“Andrew tragically died only metres from his home, whilst walking his lovely dog Liddy.
“The only solace we have is that Andrew and Liddy were not alone at such a horrific time and that they were together. Andrew and Liddy will always be in our hearts.”
The Manc -
5th February 2021 
