Citizens and residents of the UK who return to the country from so-called "red list" countries will be placed in quarantine in government-provided accommodation, such as hotels, for 10 days, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

Johnson told MPs on Wednesday that the move was geared towards preventing new mutant COVID-19 strains from being imported into the UK.

"We have also banned all travel from 22 countries where there is a risk of known variants including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations," Johnson said.

"In order to reduce the risk posed by UK nationals and residents returning home from these countries, I can announce that we will require all such arrivals who cannot be refused entry to isolate in government provided accommodation, such as hotels, for 10 days without exception."

Johnson added that such individuals will be received at the airport and taken directly into quarantine.

He also said the Department of Health and Social Care was working to create such quarantine facilities as quickly as possible.

The action had been anticipated over the last few weeks, though critics argued more should have been done sooner.

Johnson further took the opportunity to restate that it was illegal to leave one's home to travel abroad for leisure purposes under England's current lockdown rule.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who echoed Johnson's statement, lamented that there were "still too many people" coming in and out of the country each day.

"We will introduce a new requirement so that people wishing to travel must first make a declaration as to why they need to travel," Patel told MPs.

"This reason for travel will be checked by carriers prior to departure and this approach effectively mirrors the checks on arrivals that are already in place with the passenger locator form."

(With input from agencies)