BORDER FARCE
PM takes action on travel 349 days after virus arrived He is slammed for ‘closing door after horse bolted’
A FULL 349 days after the first case of Covid was confirmed in the UK, Boris Johnson last night finally announced plans to impose strict travel restrictions.
All arrivals from 4am Monday must prove they have tested negative for the disease in the past 72 hours – and must also quarantine for 10 days.
The move is an attempt to guard against mutant variants as the vaccination programme accelerates.
It comes as global Covid deaths hit two million. The PM said at last night’s No10 press briefing: “It is vital to take these extra measures now when day by day... we are making such strides protecting the population.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “I’m pleased the decision has been made but I think many people will say, ‘Why on earth didn’t this happen before?’”
UK Covid cases have been surging for weeks.
Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon said Mr Johnson scrapping the UK’s travel corridors was a case of “closing the door after the horse has bolted”.
He added: “On international travel throughout this crisis the Government has lurched from one crisis and rushed announcement to another.”
A union boss also slammed Mr Johnson’s dithering.
Manuel Cortes, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association general secretary, said: “This measure should have been put in place last March when our country first went into lockdown.
“The countries which have most successfully combated this deadly virus – including Australia and New Zealand – have had tight border restrictions and mandatory quarantine, proving that it works.
“It’s better late than never, but this Government is shockingly woeful at
ANGER Mr Cortes taking the action needed to keep people safe. They have countless lives on their hands.”
The travel industry accepted the announcement with resignation.
An ABTA spokeswoman said: “Public health is the absolute priority and the Government needs to take the steps it feels necessary to contain the spread of coronavirus.” Joss Croft,
BAFFLED Mr Starmer wonders why it’s so late the UKinbound chief, said: “With our borders effectively closed, the Government needs to provide urgent, tailored support for the inbound tourism industry.
“It cannot continue excluding it from support channels.” Arrivals can still pour into the UK this weekend with few or no restrictions.
Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Home Affairs select committee, said: “It’s been four weeks since the warnings on the South Africa variant in addition to the warn
They are woeful at doing what is needed to keep people safe
ings on the new strain from Brazil this week.
“Due to delays in publishing the Government guidance on pretravel testing, people can still travel home to the UK from Brazil or Portugal or South Africa this weekend without getting a test.”
Experts confirmed one variant from Brazil has been found in Britain, but it is not the strain which is causing most fear among scientists.
Researchers at topsecret defence laboratory Porton Down are examining the Brazilian strain of most concern to see if it is resistant to vaccines. England’s Chief
Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said the peak of patients entering hospital will come in the next week to 10 days for most areas.
Government scientists put the infection’s latest reproductive number for the UK at 1.2 – 1.3 compared with 1 – 1.4 a week ago.
Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the slowing of cases is
due to lockdown curbs. An ad blitz will warn lockdown-weary Brits: “Don’t let a coffee cost a life.” It aims to deter people socialising with pals.
Another ad will say: “Covid takes the train too.” Worldwide, the first million deaths took nine months, the second million took three months.
UNION BOSS CRITICISES GOVERNMENT’S DITHERING