Reduction in UK Quarantine with Airport Testing on the Way
5th October 2020
Last modified on May 14th, 2021
The government is expected to start a trial project at Heathrow and it could then be rolled out to other airports. Testing is seen as key to getting people flying again and booking ski holidays.
An announcement is expected to be made by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, this week.
Testing is seen to be a key priority to opening up travel and reducing the quarantine measures.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said in a statement: “Work is ongoing with clinicians and health experts on the practicalities of using testing to reduce the self-isolation period for international arrivals. The secretary of state has made clear there will be an announcement on this shortly.”
The government is to make an announcement about testing on arrival at airports “in the coming days” the Treasury Minister Steve Barclay said earlier in the week.
Currently the UK requires a 14-day quarantine period from the vast majority of ski countries.
Only Italy in the Alps and countries in Scandinavia are off the list as we have reported:
More skiing countries added to UK’s quarantine list
However their rates are increasing with Sweden recording 31.7 cass per 100,000 of population over a 7-day period.
Italy’s level is now at 24.3.
Usually a country goes on the list if it is over 20, though other factors are taken into account.
Quarantine measures to ski countries
How does the UK decide which countries to quarantine?
Switzerland now under UK quarantine
The Telegraph newspaper has reported that the Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye has been told that airport testing was a ‘key priority’ of the government and an announcement would be made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Health Secretary Matt Hancock shortly.
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There is likely to be a two-test system
Travellers from a high-risk zone would need to show a negative test certificate on arrival into the UK and then self-isolate for four days.
Then they would need to take a second test.
It is likely the first test would be included in the cost of the airplane ticket and the second test would need to be paid for separately.
