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At least 1,800 private jets landed in the UK in just a month and in full confinement with the coronavirus without any control, according to data from the Home Secretary. It is estimated that during the "lockdown", more than 95,000 passengers were able to enter the country by air , many of them from countries severely affected by the epidemic, such as China, Italy and Spain.

The unusual private air traffic between March 17 and April 14 - both business jets, cargo and military planes - has been criticized in the meantime by conservative MP Joyce Anelay as an example of the inconsistency of the measures of the British government to contain the epidemic.

The data has once again called into question the effectiveness of the measures adopted by the Boris Johnson government, which will announce in the next few days the application of a 14-day quarantine to all visitors arriving in the United Kingdom (reinforced by fines from 1,100 euros and the possibility of deportation).

The measure has been harshly criticized by airlines, citing the contrast between permissiveness during the coronavirus critical moment and the severe measures that can be the definitive blow to the tourism industry. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has criticized the move as "stupid and impractical" and says he is willing to charter 1,000 flights a day starting July 1.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced the possibility of establishing "air bridges" with areas less affected by the epidemic (such as Greece) to allow the British to go on vacation and return without having to fulfill the quarantine that could take effect on 1 of June. Several experts have criticized the effectiveness of this measure to face an alleged second wave of the coronavirus, given the high infection rate within the United Kingdom, the first European country in number of deaths from the pandemic: 35,341 to date, after registering 545 in the last 24 hours.

The official numbers have been again questioned by the National Statistical Office (ONS). ONS Director of Health Analysis Nick Stripe acknowledged to the BBC that the number of "excessive" deaths, compared to the immediately preceding years, could approach 55,000 between January and May .

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