Coronavirus: Farce as passengers arriving in UK from quarantined Italy are STILL not checked
PASSENGERS arriving in the UK from coronavirus-riddled Italy are still not being checked in a travel farce.
The Foreign Office have advised against "all but essential travel" to the worst-hit regions after Italy locked down 16 million people amid virus panic.
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But the travel advice still says that Brits will be given permission to fly home.
Its updated advice says: "British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction."
Just hours earlier, the Foreign Office was still saying it was safe to travel to Italy.
It changed the advice from avoiding only 11 small towns, to almost a blanket ban on tourism to swathes of the north including Venice and Milan.
Authorities said yesterday another 133 patients had died - a daily rise of more than 50 per cent to a total off 366 - as the worst outbreak outside China spiralled out of control.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Italy rose by almost 1,500 to 7,375 - the second highest of any country in the world.
Around 16 million people in Lombardy, Veneto and other regions have been placed under total lockdown with a ban on people entering and leaving.
THE FCO HAS WARNED BRITS AGAINST 'ALL BUT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL' TO:
- Lombardy region (which includes the cities of Milan, Bergamo, Como)
- Modena
- Parma
- Piacenza
- Reggio Emilia and Rimini (all in Emilia Romagna)
- Pesaro e Urbino (in Marche)
- Alessandria
- Asti
- Novara
- Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
- Vercelli (all in Piemonte)
- Padova. Treviso
- Venice (in Veneto)
Meanwhile any Italians found flouting the strict rules face a three month prison stretch or a hefty fine.
It's reported the decision to quarantine nearly a quarter of the population has descended into chaos with thousands of Italians trying to flee south.
Last night easyJet announced they would be cancelling flights to affected regions following the lockdown.
The airline said affected passengers would be informed of cancellations by email and text message.
What Italy's lockdown means:
- Theatres and cinema suspended
- Religious ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, banned
- Sporting events cancelled
- School and university classes cancelled
- Gyms, pools and museums closed
- Dance schools, pubs, disco and bingo all suspended
- Meetings that involve health care personnel suspended
The Lockdown areas are: Lombardy (the whole region) and the 14 provinces of: Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro e Urbino, Venezia, Padova, Treviso, Asti, Alessandria, Novara Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli.
The "confusing" advice comes as the UK saw its third death on British soil, and the number of cases leapt to 178.
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The Foreign Office say they do "advise" two-weeks of self-isolation upon returning from an affected region.
But there is nothing stopping passengers from hopping on public transport or entering densely populated spaces.
Brits from other coronavirus-ridden areas, like Wuhan the flu epicentre, and the deadly Princess Diamond cruise ship were placed in isolation for 14 days.
A spokesperson for the FCO said earlier: "The safety of British nationals is always our number one priority."
