Boris Johnson announced this evening travellers flying into Britain will have to segregate themselves for a period of time.

The UK has previously been criticised for not screening or quarantining people at airports but the Prime Minister said it would soon be the right time to start doing so.

The PM said: ‘And to prevent re-infection from abroad, I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.

‘And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here, that this measure will now be effective.’

The Times revealed on Saturday travellers would be forced to quarantine for 14 days and would have to provide the address where they planned to self-isolate

If they broke rules they could face £1,000 fines and deportation.

The measure applies to Britons returning from abroad and spot checks will be carried out by authorities to ensure people are remaining indoors.

Aviation bosses, who fear a two-week quarantine would cripple the already decimated industry, called for more clarity when the proposals were leaked yesterday.

Industry body Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, EasyJet and other UK-based airlines, said the policy needed ‘a credible exit plan’ and should be reviewed weekly.

‘We need to see the details of what they are proposing’, it said in a statement.

It is not clear how long the new travel restriction would be in place and whether non-UK residents would be allowed to stay in rented private accommodation.