So I had another think about this overnight and in a way it makes some sort of sense. Basically, to cover up their a**es on the fact we had such a high spike of deaths, this new measure (if truly implemented- it was rumoured face mask laws would be implemented but never happened) will detract everyone in this country from going on an abroad holiday or other tourists coming in. That way, the government has less risk of getting even more blame than it already has as if the virus is under control in this country, if people coming in are put under quarantine, then this means we really shouldn't see a second wave and further deaths should be minimised. (which is a good thing as the death toll has been so high in the UK).
The major issue is the damage it will have on our economy. As other countries get back up and running, their economy is starting to get back into shape and the future of businesses looks more promising than it did before. I feel with rumours of an extremely slow exit strategy in this country, a lot of smaller businesses will collapse. UK based airlines will majorly suffer too- who knows how many will go bust and then when it's feasible to even get a flight out of the UK again. In terms of parks, we have already seen Dreamland and M&Ds suffer and if the government's furlough scheme isn't extended for the businesses who will be the last to get up and running, then we will see more UK parks suffer very badly this year.
Of course, a way to speed up the exit strategy is to make face masks mandatory on public transport and in shops as this will reduce transmission rates and means you can get things up and running faster, but the government appear too blind to see that. Instead, supposedly on Monday we will be seeing garden centres open and more freedom to exercise. Seems like they are "easing the restrictions" just to stop people complaining when in reality it's not really a change at all. Social distancing has fallen through in supermarkets and needs to be reintegrated through the use of masks, especially staff who should really be provided PPE by the supermarkets, because believe it or not, supermarket workers have been some of the most at risk during this outbreak.
The other major issue with this proposed quarantine is as
@Nicky Borrill has said above, it won't actually be enforced by police or technology. In Poland for example, the 14 day quarantine has been enforced by the police who patrol your house and make phone calls to check you are staying inside. Here, the quarantine would probably just be "recommended to protect the NHS" or something like that. Well, no one seemed to care about protecting the NHS yesterday and saving lives when people on streets around me were having parties of about 30 people in the middle of the street, drinking, making lots of noise and not making any effort to social distance whatsoever. It's hardly fair on those of us who have truly put our selves in isolation for the good of others to then see them breaking the rules. The more people break the rules in this country, the longer this goes on for in my opinion and the more extended the exit strategy becomes.
Of course, no one seemed to really be sticking to the lockdown in this country in the first place, so perhaps this is why the government are introducing this 14 day quarantine, as a "punishment' to everyone who was breaking the lockdown no one can go an abroad holiday anymore this summer. But all the people who stuck to the rules now have to suffer the consequences for no reason.
These rules always seem so vague in the media anyway, are they really leaks or intended leaks? No mention of ferry or channel tunnel travel for civilians.
At the moment you cannot board the channel tunnel and will be turned away at the French border unless you have an essential reason for travelling into France. The ferry from UK to holland I am not so sure of the current restrictions.
Nevertheless, the 14 day quarantine would apply for anyone arriving into the uk, regardless of travel medium, not just people arriving in via plane.
