UK to introduce quarantine for international arrivals from June 8

By Alistair Smout and Kylie MacLellan

 

Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel holds a daily news conference with Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (not pictured) and Border Force Director General Paul Lincoln (not pictured) on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain May 22, 2020. Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/Handout via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will introduce a COVID-19 quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad from June 8, interior minister Priti Patel said on Friday, a measure that airlines have warned will devastate their industry.

 

All international arrivals, including returning Britons, will have to self-isolate for 14 days and provide details of where they will be staying under the plans, which were criticised by airlines, business groups and politicians alike.

 

"Now we are past the peak of this virus, we must take steps to guard against imported cases triggering a resurgence of this deadly disease," Patel said at a news conference.

 

Those who breached the quarantine in England could be fined 1,000 pounds ($1,218), and spot checks would be carried out by health and border officials.

 

The quarantine will not apply to those arriving from the Irish Republic, nor to freight drivers, medical professionals and seasonal agricultural workers. The measures will be reviewed every 3 weeks. [nL8N2D44UM]

 

Transport minister Grant Shapps has also suggested the government would seek to negotiate "air bridges" for travellers coming from countries with low virus infection rates.

 

Unlike many other countries, Britain has carried out few tests and checks on visitors, with quarantine limited only to arrivals from China at the start of the outbreak.

 

Spain and Italy have introduced rules that mean international arrivals must self-isolate for two weeks, while on Friday Ireland gave further details for its own quarantine proposals. [L8N2D44ZQ]

 

AIRLINES DISMAYED

 

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the blanket quarantine was deeply concerning and could be avoided with strong safety measures.

 

"This approach will damage international business and investor confidence at a time when it is vital to demonstrate that the UK can open for business safely," BCC Director General Adam Marshall said.

 

The opposition Labour Party supported the measures but said the government's handling of UK arrivals had "lacked urgency, coherence and clarity from the outset". Some members of Johnson's Conservative party have also criticised the plan.

 

Chief among industry critics of the plan are airline bosses.

 

They have said the measures would have severe repercussions, with Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive, saying they would be "unenforceable and unpoliceable."

 

Ryanair <RYA.I> and easyJet <EZJ.L> have outlined plans to restart some flights in coming months. But under the quarantine plan, Virgin Atlantic will not restart until August at the earliest.

 

"Introducing a quarantine at this stage makes no sense and will mean very limited international aviation at best," said Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of industry body Airlines UK.

 

"It is just about the worst thing government could do if their aim is to restart the economy."

 

(Additional reporting by Estelle Shirbon, Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton; editing by Michael Holden and Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

Self quarantine didn't go well in Thailand. Way too little, way too late.

4 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"It is just about the worst thing government could do if their aim is to restart the economy."

then why are they doing it ? doesn't seem to make much sense at all. o wait this has never been about some stupid scary virus.

Better late then never, and with the UK 36,000+ death so far some serious and strict measures has to be taken i guess...

After 1.5million people from everywhere in the world have arrived already since March...stables and doors spring to mind.

Just an other example of how badly Boris and the Tories have handled this crisis. Almost every single country in the world have introduced some sort of quarantine but it's taken the UK months to adopt. When this is all over I look forward to the independent investigation into the governments handling of the C19 crisis and the highlighting of all the mistakes made that have directly contributed to so many deaths in the Uk.

It should mean that many heads will roll but knowing Boris and his lot, they'll probably squirm out of taking any responsibility and blame everyone else except themselves.

3 hours ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Self quarantine didn't go well in Thailand. Way too little, way too late.

Really? It´s UK that is way too late. Look at the Thai figures, and the fact that they implemented the mandatory quarantine before there were 10k´s of dead people around them.

 

This is really late! It took them this long to get their thumbs out of their <deleted>, and you are comparing that to Thailand. Are you from the UK and over the top patriotic by any chance? ????

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Better late then never, and with the UK 36,000+ death so far some serious and strict measures has to be taken i guess...

I would say that´s a fairly good guess. 36k dead people, and that´s how long time it took them to understand????? Seriously?

56 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Really? It´s UK that is way too late. Look at the Thai figures, and the fact that they implemented the mandatory quarantine before there were 10k´s of dead people around them.

 

This is really late! It took them this long to get their thumbs out of their <deleted>, and you are comparing that to Thailand. Are you from the UK and over the top patriotic by any chance? ????

 

France, Spain, Italy, Belgium - all did so fantastic at managing this - not.

 

Are you from the EU by any chance?

 

I think he's making the point that it's the UK that are too little too late not Thailand. And that closing the borders seems to prove more effective.

31 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

But if you turn up in an overloaded rubber dinghy, no quarantine and you're given a house and benefits????????

More anti-immigrant rubbish.

32 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

But if you turn up in an overloaded rubber dinghy, no quarantine and you're given a house and benefits????????

 

Scandalous that France appear to now be facilitating illegal criminal immigration to the UK. Showing once again how untrustworthy they are and that their word means nothing.

 

All these illegals should be deported at the earliest opportunity. By sea if necessary.

37 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

But if you turn up in an overloaded rubber dinghy, no quarantine and you're given a house and benefits????????

Are you; evidence?

What a crazy decision after letting in thousands over the past 3 months with no checks at all.

1 hour ago, Matzzon said:

Really? It´s UK that is way too late. Look at the Thai figures, and the fact that they implemented the mandatory quarantine before there were 10k´s of dead people around them.

 

This is really late! It took them this long to get their thumbs out of their <deleted>, and you are comparing that to Thailand. Are you from the UK and over the top patriotic by any chance? ????

You missed the point of my post completely. sorry, maybe it was a bit vague. Initially, Thailand tried self isolation for its returning citizens and found high levels of non compliance so changed to quarantining in government facilities.

 

The UK government is adopting self isolation for returnees (I suspect it will have similar results) and months later than Thailand. I'm no fan of the Thai government but on this they have been spot on.

 

In Thailand, this is by far the most effective means to keep Covid-19 infections down close to zero. The majority of recent new cases have been found in Thai government quarantine facilities. Good job Thailand.

 

Even though it has a major adverse consequence for me, I say a personal thanks to Thailand.

 

 

Edited May 23, 20206 yr by Phil McCaverty

A bit like closing the gate after the horse has bolted.

A typical làte response from this most incompetent of governments. 

Boris finally got it !!!!! About 8 weeks too late. Total incompetence

Seems a tad too late. Self quarantine will never work in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. They should have adopted what Australia is doing,  mandatory quarantine. Had friends coming in from overseas to work in the oil and gas industry and they also where quarantined for 14 days prior to being allowed offshore. Confined to the room for the full 14 days and not allowed outside, food delivers and left outside the room door. Two security people posted on each floor to watch elevators and emergency exits. Not ideal but it did result in Australia having lower cases of Corona victims than most other countries. They are now starting to lift restrictions, slowly but they are being lifted. 

Information for returning travellers

Effective from midnight AEDST 28 March 2020, if you’re arriving back in Australia you’ll be subject to the Australian Government’s mandatory quarantine period of 14 days at your first Australian destination.

You’ll be provided with suitable accommodation to stay in during this period. You’ll not be permitted to travel domestically (including to your home) or continue on any domestic connections, until the 14 day mandatory quarantine period has been completed.

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Scandalous that France appear to now be facilitating illegal criminal immigration to the UK. Showing once again how untrustworthy they are and that their word means nothing.

 

All these illegals should be deported at the earliest opportunity. By sea if necessary.

And why doesn't Priti Patel do it? British gov. incompetence comes to mind.

22 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Boris finally got it !!!!! About 8 weeks too late. Total incompetence

This will only be implemented in 2 weeks time, so make that 10 weeks late.

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

UK to introduce quarantine for international arrivals from June 8

Won't be many travelers to the UK. who want's to go there and get locked away for 14 days. 

maybe good to keep the Virus at bay But Bad for anything else.

2 hours ago, natway09 said:

Boris finally got it !!!!! About 8 weeks too late. Total incompetence

That has been the skill set he has displayed since the outset, everything done too late and a campaign of misinformation about what was being done or unrealistic promises about what would be done or deflection from deliberately misleading information about what was said had been done.

I am back in the UK now and wish the UK had copied Thailand and lessons learned the hard way by other countries! The UK are so behind most countries who have gone before with preventative measures that it is truly shocking! Instead of looking to learn from what other countries have successfully done they say they are following 'expert' scientific advice which belies an inward looking we know-it-all British Brexit attitude. With the embarassing and deadly incompetance our govt has shown in handling this crisis, God help us after they negotiate Brexit!

Edited May 23, 20206 yr by SunsetT

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Scandalous that France appear to now be facilitating illegal criminal immigration to the UK. Showing once again how untrustworthy they are and that their word means nothing.

What are you talking about ?? 

Such accusation needs proof, or at least a source.

Unless it's State quarantine it's pretty pointless.  People arriving at their point of arrival in the UK will still need to travel to their home/hotel on a crowded train/bus/Underground.

 

 

Another prime example of a government that hasn't a clue.  Way too late and will have little effect anyway.  Once the people have arrived and been instructed told to go and self isolate, they will pile onto the trains, coaches and the underground and mix with hundreds of people on the way to their destination.  Beggars belief to do this while every day lifting more lockdown restrictions.

Apparently self isolation is difficult, Cummins caught out, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52780561

Edited May 23, 20206 yr by stevenl

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Scandalous that France appear to now be facilitating illegal criminal immigration to the UK. Showing once again how untrustworthy they are and that their word means nothing.

 Your evidence of this being? I can't find any.

 

Who rescues migrants in the Channel?

Those picked up in the UK zone will be taken to an English port and those in the French zone to a port in France

 

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

All these illegals should be deported at the earliest opportunity. By sea if necessary.

24 January 2019 UK starts returning migrants to France to 'deter' Channel boat crossings

 

Still happening.

 

21 May 2020 Home Office deporting migrants who cross Channel in small boats

 

Under the EU's Dublin Regulation, we currently have the right to transfer asylum seekers to their country of first entry to the EU if we can show that they made a claim in that country or any other EU member if they spent an amount of time there rather than merely passing through. 

 

Of course, from 1st January 2021 we will no longer be bound by any EU regulations and neither will any EU country in regards to us; so we will lose this right.

 

Yet another Brexit disadvantage labelled 'project fear' by Cummings and his crew when it was brought up in 2016!

 

2 hours ago, digger70 said:

Won't be many travelers to the UK. who want's to go there and get locked away for 14 days. 

maybe good to keep the Virus at bay But Bad for anything else.

Most people currently entering the UK are British citizens or residents returning home.

 

If wondering why there are still so many, the government's advice is still to return by commercial flights where available. Obviously, these were few and far between; only one airline, Eva, flying directly from BKK to LHR and that only one flight every other day and to ensure social distancing the plane half full.

 

I know, because the wife and I were on 28th April's flight.

 

"Where commercial flights are not available, you may be eligible for a special charter flight. You should check the ‘Return to the UK’ section of your country’s travel advice page to see if a flight is available. See also our general guide to the booking process for special charter flights."

 

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Scandalous that France appear to now be facilitating illegal criminal immigration to the UK. Showing once again how untrustworthy they are and that their word means nothing.

 

All these illegals should be deported at the earliest opportunity. By sea if necessary.

Or we could put them to work fruit picking as the farmers have a real problem at the moment with that.  The shortfall in foreign fruit pickers that we always rely on is having a devastating effect and as always the Brits are not stepping up for that particular job! 

 

As most of the arrests of those individuals bringing in the illegal immigrants seem to be villains from Essex or Kent or Eastern Europeans then pointing the finger at the French seems a bit off beam.  Especially as this has been going on for years and years.  Of course they are coming over from France as it is the shortest route.

14 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Apparently self isolation is difficult, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52780561

 Will those who were vociferous in their condemnation of Sturgeon's support for Dr Catherine Calderwood be equally vociferous here?

 

As most of them are prominent government and Brexit supporters, somehow I doubt it!