Quarantine rules ‘are not enforceable’ say airlines

Contact tracing app and testing seen as keys to reopening borders, but ‘air bridges’ still possible

A 14-DAY quarantine for arrivals in the UK was described as “ineffective and unenforceable” last night after the Home Secretary faced a backlash from the travel industry and Tory MPS.

From June 8, anyone arriving in Britain – apart from those on an exempt list – will be required to self-isolate for two weeks or face fines of up to £3,200.

Last night there were signs it could be short-lived, as Priti Patel said it was being kept under review. The Home Secretary also confirmed that “air bridges” between Britain and countries with a similar or lower infection rate were set to be brought in, including by ferry and the Channel Tunnel.

Ms Patel said passengers would be asked to specify the address where they would self-isolate, but the only enforcement would be spot checks.

Critics pointed out that Ireland was exempt, meaning passengers could fly to Dublin and then to the UK, and travellers would be able to use public transport to get to lockdown addresses.

Ryanair said it opposed “ineffective” and “unenforceable” measures.

PRITI PATEL raised the prospect of quarantine being lifted through “air bridges” and testing, even as she announced the travel curbs will come into force on June 8.

The Home Secretary pledged to have a “plethora of tools” to reopen the borders in a “safe and sensible way”, as she pledged reviews of the measures every three weeks.

She said the Government would look at “all options” including air bridges negotiated with nations with low coronavirus transmission rates.

But she singled out the planned test, track and trace strategy as key to lifting quarantine.

“We want to have a plethora of tools that can effectively support these measures of quarantining, but also post these measures help us look at how we can in this measured and responsible way open society,” she told the daily Downing Street press conference.

From June 8, all arrivals to the UK – including returning Britons – will have to fill in an online form up to 48 hours before flying giving their contact details, passport number and UK accommodation where they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

If on arrival they have not, they will have one last chance, but continued failure to do so will result in a £100 fine, which could multiply up to

£3,200.

Refusal to hand over personal details once fined could lead to arrest and foreign visitors who refuse to fill in the forms could be denied entry to the UK.

People who arrive without a place to stay will have to pay for Governmentarranged accommodation for 14 days.

Anyone breaching the two-week self-isolation faces £1,000 fixed penalty or prosecution with an unlimited fine, although Scotland is expected to set it at £60 to stay in line with penalties for breaches of lockdown rules.

The regulations, introduced as part of the health protection act, will be laid before Parliament with a 28-day window in which MPS can object to force a vote on the proposals.

Arrivals from the common travel area, including Ireland and the Channel Islands, will be exempt as will the 12,000 road haulage and freight workers who bring food, medical and other vital supplies into the UK.

Also exempted are medical professionals travelling to help the coronavirus effort.

Seasonal agricultural workers must self-isolate on the property at which they are working.

Paul Lincoln, director general of Border Force, said elite sports including Formula One were not exempt but the Government was keeping it under review “to see if there is a way in which sports events can be done safely with right measures in place”.

Mr Lincoln also left open the possibility that “air bridges” could be negotiated. Greece, Italy, France and Spain have suggested they would be prepared to negotiate such deals, first mooted by Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, but previously met with scepticism by the Home Office, Foreign Office and No10. Enforcement of the quarantine will be heavily reliant on trust, with Border Force officials only conducting “spot checks” on passengers arriving at UK ports and airports.

Arrivals will be advised to use personal rather than public transport to reach their accommodation and once there they will not be allowed to accept visitors, unless they are providing essential support, and should not go out to buy food or other essentials “where they can rely on others”.

Arrivals will also be strongly advised to download the NHS contact-tracing app at the border “once rolled out nationally”.

Public Health England officials backed up by private contractors will check if people abide by the self-isolation, initially by phoning them.

If, as a result, they suspect a breach, police officers will “in extremis” be sent to their addresses where they could be fined. Police have been told it is likely to be just 100 homes a day.

Removal from the country will be considered as a last resort for foreign nationals who refuse to comply.