Since Monday 8 June, anyone arriving in the United Kingdom from abroad must isolate themselves for 14 days, in order to avoid the importation of new cases of coronavirus.

This fortnight, which will be reviewed by the British government every three weeks, concerns all arrivals by land, sea and air, whether travelers reside or not in the United Kingdom. It aims to avoid cases of Covid-19 from abroad when the country gradually lifts the restrictions put in place in late March to contain the spread of the virus.

"I really hope people can get on a plane, go on vacation this summer, but we have to start with a cautious approach," health minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday. Sky News.

Checks and fines

Random checks will be implemented and offenders are liable to a fine of 1,000 pounds (1,122 euros). Exceptions are made for road hauliers, health personnel, fruit pickers or travelers from Ireland.

The United Kingdom counts 40,542 deaths of people tested positive for the new coronavirus, and even more than 48,000 including also suspect cases, for nearly 287,000 contaminations, according to the last official report, Sunday. 

The National Statistics Service (ONS) estimated more than 5,500 the number of daily contaminations in late May in England. And, according to a study by English health authorities (PHE England) and researchers at the University of Cambridge, the virus has even slightly accelerated its spread in certain regions since the start of deconfinement.

The government's scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, himself estimated, before the press, that the decision to impose this quarantine was more political than scientific, although the government prides itself on scrupulously following scientific advice. 

A controversial measure

Grounded by the pandemic, aviation and tourism professionals are very upset against this measure. Airlines British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair asked the government on Sunday to drop this "ineffective quarantine, which will have a devastating effect on the British tourism industry and will destroy (...) thousands of jobs". They co-signed an official letter addressed to the government on Friday, a preliminary step to possible legal action. 

"Thousands of Europeans who would normally travel to the UK in July and August during the peak season will not come because they are terrified of the quarantine," said Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary. on Sky News Monday.

At London Heathrow Airport, the jobs of 25,000 people are threatened, one third of the total workforce, warned airport boss John Holland-Kaye in the podcast of the London business center daily AM. 

The sling has spread to the conservative majority, which fears that the government will sabotage the economy, already struck down by the health crisis. 

As a way out, the government of Boris Johnson is considering establishing air bridges with certain tourist destinations, such as France or Spain, which would make it possible to bypass quarantine. According to the Sunday Times, the leader asked his Minister of Transport to find a solution before the end of June. 

With AFP

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