UK Families Take Legal Action Over Alleged Cramped, Dirty Quarantine Hotels, Insects in Food

Families staying in UK quarantine hotels say they are being subjected to unsanitary conditions and their dietary requirements are not being met, despite paying a high fee to be there.

The conditions are so bad and so widespread that ministers could now be facing legal action over the hotels used to quarantine British citizens arriving in the UK, the Independent reports.

A number of families have filed legal action over the conditions of the hotels, with one already resulting in a High Court judge ordering the situation be rectified immediately.

The reports range from families waiting hours to be delivered water, to people being repeatedly served food they can’t eat, to being cramped in tiny accommodations with nowhere to dispose of garbage.

All British residents who pass through countries on a “red list” are required to quarantine for 10 days in a state-sanctioned hotel, in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

However, lawyers for hotel guests told the Independent the conditions in the hotels they had seen were morally reprehensible and plainly unlawful, especially considering the fees.

Adult residents entering the country must pay £1,750 for the room, plus £650 for every additional person over 12 and £325 for kids aged between five and 12. 

Hotel staff told the Independent the poor service was down to the rooms being full and there being so many people to serve.

One family that lodged a claim with the High Court last week told the Independent they were repeatedly served pork burgers they can’t eat because they are Muslim, leaving their children having to eat cereal and crisps.

They were also unable to leave their cramped room, which made it difficult for their son, who has ADHD.

Another family said they were served food with insects in it, faced delays getting water and had been “freezing” during the night due to broken heating.

Lawyers for the families told the Independent the treatment amounted to a breach of human rights, and the responsibility went right up to the ministers and the Home Office.

Imperium Chambers barrister Paul Turner said serving Muslims pork and dates crawling with live insects was “morally reprehensible” and highlighted the discriminatory nature of the Home Office, which set up the quarantine hotels.

”There can be no excuse for effectively locking up British citizens and providing them with food that would do injustice in a third world country.” 

Meanwhile, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, consumers are seeking legal help in its wake.

Coronavirus lawsuits have been filed over a variety of issues including price-gouging, business interruption insurance, impact on workers, impact on voters, and more. For more on the latest coronavirus lawsuits, click here.

What do you think of these families’ experiences in the quarantine hotels? Let us know in the comments!

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