Hancock told MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday: “People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk.

"I make no apologies for the strength of these measures because we’re dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that we’ve faced as a nation.”

He also announced people entering England from abroad will have to undergo further coronavirus testing during their subsequent 10-day isolation period.

People will have to take a test two and eight days into their quarantine, and must book these in advance.

And Hancock said there will be a £1,000 penalty for any international arrival who fails to take a test, and a £2,000 fine for any international arrival who fails to take the second test.

Furthermore, anyone who fails to take a test will also see their quarantine period extended by 14 days.

Hancock also confirmed a person who tests negative five days after arrival could mix in the community again – within the rules – but would have to return to quarantine if their test on day eight returned a positive COVID-19 result.

The extra testing will be in addition to the current rules requiring a negative COVID-19 test up to 72 hours before arrival, with proof of this needed to be allowed entry.

People must also provide contact details of where they will be staying for the 10-day isolation period.

This is hard for the authorities to police, and so the imposition of mandatory extra testing – as well as the threat of huge fines and prison sentences for rule breakers – has been presented by the government as toughening its border stance, which has been repeatedly questioned in recent days.

The measures will be put into law this week, Hancock said.

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth, responding to the announcement for Labour, said the public wants the government to “go further” on border quarantine measures. Yahoo News