Plans to ease lockdown were boosted yesterday by figures showing the dramatic impact vaccines are already having as Boris Johnson last night confirmed the country had hit its target of 15 million.
Mr Hancock said uptake of the vaccine had been 'much higher than expected', with more than 90 per cent of over-70s across the UK turning up to their appointments.
Travellers may have be forced to wait in totally unacceptable queues for up to five hours and will be free to mix with passengers from red list countries as the Government s quarantine hotel system comes into force today.
Heathrow Airport warned of long queues at Border Control and said there were no protocols in place to segregate passengers from the 33 high-risk countries from others despite the stringent quarantine measures being introduced.
It is feared the safety of up to 8,000 passengers a day could be compromised as airport staff carry out extra checks on those entering the country.
Union bosses warned the new system, which will see all passengers from the red list countries having to quarantine for ten days in a hotel, will not be enough to stop the mutant variants from spreading.
First travellers taking part in the new UK hotel quarantine scheme arrived this morning at London Heathrow
Touched down in the UK from variety of Covid red list countries including the UAE, Zambia and South Africa
Comes amid warnings arrivals at Britain s busiest airport may have to queue for up to five hours at the border
No protocols are in place to segregate passengers from the 33 high-risk countries from lower-risk arrivals
Scotland is applying hotel quarantine scheme to visitors from every foreign destination in tougher approach Are you arriving in the UK today and having to quarantine in a hotel? Email tips@dailymail.com