Britain tightens borders to keep out new COVID-19 variants

By Sarah Young and William James

 

Passengers are seen at BA check-in desks at Heathrow Airport, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), London, Britain January 15, 2021. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is tightening border controls to block new variants of COVID-19, suspending all "travel corridor" arrangements that had meant arrivals from some countries did not require quarantine.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is grappling to control a third wave of the virus and prevent the health service from collapse while also racing to vaccinate millions each week.

 

"What we don't want to see is all that hard work undone by the arrival of a new variant that is vaccine-busting," he told a news conference, explaining the end of travel corridors at least until Feb. 15.

 

The rule changes come into force at 0400 GMT on Monday and mean all passengers must have a recent negative coronavirus test and transfer immediately into isolation upon arrival.

 

Isolation lasts for 10 days, unless the passenger tests negative after five.

 

On Thursday, Britain banned arrivals from South America, Portugal and some other countries over fears about a variant detected in Brazil.

 

Britain's current lockdowns ban most international travel meaning that airline schedules are currently minimal, but the withdrawal of any quarantine-free travel will be a further blow for an industry already on its knees.

 

UK-based airline easyJet said there was no immediate impact from Johnson's announcement, but in a statement added: "We need to ensure that travel corridors are put back in place when it is safe to do so."

 

Britain has already felt the effects of mutations in the virus, after a variant first discovered in England has proved to be more transmissible.

 

Critics say the government has been too slow to act and previously left borders wide open.

 

Much of the criticism prior to Friday's announcement has focused on whether rules requiring arriving passengers to quarantine are actually being enforced, with anecdotal evidence that few checks are made.

 

"We will be stepping up our enforcement, both at the border and in country," Johnson said.

 

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Writing by William James; Editing by Elizabeth Piper, Andrew Cawthorne and Giles Elgood)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-16

 

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Too little, far too late!

 

Incompetent Johnson never took the virus seriously, at first dithering over herd immunity policy, must save the economy (fail!), head in the sand like his trans Atlantic buddy. From boasting about shaking hands with covid patients in March to handing out super spreader vouchers "Eat out to help out" in August as though the virus would simply ignore his generosity. Even by Christmas he was still just shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

While other countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Thailand completely banned incoming non resident flights 10 months ago!! seriously slowing the spread of the virus, and insisted on mandatory hotel quarantine. Short sharp pain. Lower the virus impact while a vaccine is researched.

 

Even today he's going for the Poundshop self quarantine.
OP: "Much of the criticism prior to Friday's announcement has focused on whether rules requiring arriving passengers to quarantine are actually being enforced, with anecdotal evidence that few checks are made."

 

Very sad for the 87,000! Brits who have died compared with 69 in Thailand (same sized population and not even an island like Britain), Australia (909 deaths total), New Zealand (25 deaths total).

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

 

Shambolic management by Johnson...one of the worst responses in Europe and the world for such a developed country.

Absolutely correct. This UK government is a total waste of space, and Johnson has been a disaster from day one. 

59 minutes ago, dexterm said:

Very sad for the 87,000! Brits who have died compared with 69 in Thailand (same sized population and not even an island like Britain), Australia (909 deaths total), New Zealand (25 deaths total).

i think one should look at the number of tests conducted not at number of infections found by itself

5 minutes ago, MasterBaker said:

i think one should look at the number of tests conducted not at number of infections found by itself

How about looking at death certificates due to Johnson's incompetence? There's something unequivocal about mortality.

that's funny because the rest of the world is kinda thinking the same about keeping the brits out. 

Finger on the pulse our Boris. 

The UK should pray for a miracle. The future will be hard, especially if the hospitals become out of control.  Ireland is having a horrible time as well, so they all have to be a lot more serious or the numbers will just keep increasing.  Good Luck

Geezer

3 hours ago, MasterBaker said:

number of infections

NOT number of infections! The number of DEAD!  87 THOUSAND DEATHS!

There has been and there still is no enforcement of quarantine and very little monitoring because over the last 10 years this UK Conservative government  have cut the numbers of police, fire service, doctors, nurses, and AL medical and public service workers to the bare minimum.

I thought they already had a complete set of all strings.

6 hours ago, dexterm said:

Too little, far too late!

 

Incompetent Johnson never took the virus seriously, at first dithering over herd immunity policy, must save the economy (fail!), head in the sand like his trans Atlantic buddy. From boasting about shaking hands with covid patients in March to handing out super spreader vouchers "Eat out to help out" in August as though the virus would simply ignore his generosity. Even by Christmas he was still just shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

While other countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Thailand completely banned incoming non resident flights 10 months ago!! seriously slowing the spread of the virus, and insisted on mandatory hotel quarantine. Short sharp pain. Lower the virus impact while a vaccine is researched.

 

Even today he's going for the Poundshop self quarantine.
OP: "Much of the criticism prior to Friday's announcement has focused on whether rules requiring arriving passengers to quarantine are actually being enforced, with anecdotal evidence that few checks are made."

 

Very sad for the 87,000! Brits who have died compared with 69 in Thailand (same sized population and not even an island like Britain), Australia (909 deaths total), New Zealand (25 deaths total).

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

 

Shambolic management by Johnson...one of the worst responses in Europe and the world for such a developed country.

Closing the stable door - the incompetent British gov't should have done this 8 months ago.

1 hour ago, SunsetT said:

There has been and there still is no enforcement of quarantine and very little monitoring because over the last 10 years this UK Conservative government  have cut the numbers of police, fire service, doctors, nurses, and AL medical and public service workers to the bare minimum.

You can thank T. May for that .  BJ  has started a massive police recruitment , 20,000 I believe .   The NHS has serious problems with many doctors and nurses off ill and they are saying they may leave the profession once the pandemic is over . Inappropriate wages for front line medics coupled with low grade PPE  have not helped plus the fact they all have burn out . These dedicated medics deserve so much more respect and appreciation .

           The way things are going the death rate will surpass 100,00 .  When this is all over there will be a wash up / investigation into the government's actions . I think we will find that BJ was just the mouthpiece for SAGE  who were greatly influenced by the overrated Dominic Cummings who seemed to be running the show .

3 hours ago, superal said:

investigation into the government's actions

....Should find them guilty of not far short of manslaughter!