£1,500 quarantine hotel

The 1-minute read to get the money news you need.

New quarantine plans

People arriving in the UK from overseas will have to pay at least £1,500 to quarantine in a hotel, according to plans being finalised today. The government is expected to announce the policy later today. The enforced 10-day quarantine stay would involve self-isolating and eating all meals in the hotel room.

Jobless rate rises

Unemployment hit 5% in the 3 months to November 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics. It means around 1.72 million people are out of work, the highest since 2016. Young people are the most likely to have lost jobs, with a fivefold increase in redundancies compared to 2019.

10% mortgages fall

There are currently just 221 mortgage deals* available to buyers with a 10% deposit, according to Moneyfacts. That’s less than a third of the number this time last year. 2020 saw mortgage lenders withdraw many of their first-time buyer deals. Why? They’re worried about the economic outlook, and buyers not being able to make repayments.

Pets to get jab?

Dogs and cats might need to be vaccinated too, to help curb the spread of the virus. Our furry friends can catch it, and scientists have warned that possible transmission to humans poses a “long-term health risk”.