On-the-spot testing at borders and temperature checks should replace ‘air bridges’ and quarantine, Labour says
ONE-THE-SPOT testing at border and temperature checks should replace “air bridges” and quarantine, Labour has demanded.
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas Symmonds today urged ministers to look at ditching the blanket quarantine rules in favour of testing at airports.
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His comments come as the Government removed Spain from the safe list of countries, and said anyone returning would have to stay home for a fortnight or risk a £1,000 fine.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the Labour front bencher called for “smarter measures” instead of blanket bans.
He said: "We certainly would be following the advice and introducing protective measures at the border if there are spikes in cases in other countries, absolutely.
"But there are two serious questions around this. The first is why we are still employing the... blunt tool of the 14-day quarantining rather than smarter measures and secondly the chaotic nature of the decision-making which certainly hasn't bred confidence in the Government's approach.
"I think you need a smarter set of quarantine measures at the airport. I've suggested this test, trace and isolate regime but you can also have temperature checking and other things - you look at a range of measures."
But earlier today Lord Bethell said scepticism remains over the effectiveness of temperature checks, while a "frustrating but unavoidable truth" is a Covid-19 test does not necessarily mean a person is virus-free and will not show symptoms in the days ahead.
Testing at airports "cannot be a surefire and safe route" to protect the UK and isolation is the preferred approach, the minister explained to peers.
He also ruled out specific regional quarantines, saying "within individual countries there is no way for us to control intra-country transport, it is therefore very difficult and challenging to have a regional exemption list, and that is why we've not been able to give exemptions to the Balearics - and I say this with a personal interest in the matter."
The Government announced a grading system for countries on July 3, saying 59 countries will be made exempt from quarantine.
Those returning from countries not on the list will have to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.
The list only applies to travellers from England, with different restrictions in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The current 'air bridge' safe list includes around 70 destinations, including Greece, Italy and Croatia, although Portugal still remains off the list due to infection numbers.
Before, the UK had allowed Brits to travel to the holiday hotspot without needing to self-quarantine on return.
After a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain, holidaymakers in the country - including island hotspots like Majorca and Ibiza - will now be forced to quarantine for two weeks upon returning home to the UK.
The Foreign Office has also warned against "all but essential travel" to mainland Spain - though this advice does not cover the Canary Islands or Balearic Islands.
However, this is under constant review and could change.
Earlier this month it was revealed ministers were looking at testing on arrival.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has been discussing passenger testing with airport handling firm Swissport who are trialling schemes in the UK.
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Swissport wants to offer saliva swab tests to arriving travellers before going home or to a hotel to begin self-isolation.
The test result would be known in no more than 24 hours - if it were positive, the passenger would contact the test-and-trace service and complete the two weeks of self-isolation.
