Heathrow testing centre that could end UK quarantine
A BRITISH airport has developed a Covid-19 detection area staffed by a squadron of nurses and with the potential to test thousands of arrivals a day.
It is hoped the multi-million-euro facility at London’s Heathrow will bring an end to the 14-day quarantine rule that is destroying the travel industry both here and in Britain.
Unveiled exclusively in today’s Mail, it will soon be used to carry out swab tests on arriving passengers, with results emailed to them in seven hours.
Travellers would then test themselves at home a few days later. If they pass both checks, they could be allowed to leave quarantine early and return to normal life.
Heathrow bosses hope passengers who prove negative could be freed within five to eight days after landing, and ultimately only three.
However that decision lies with ministers and the entire scheme requires UK government approval before it can begin.
The tests would be booked online and cost £150. It is hoped this could fall to £50 a passenger – with a state subsidy.
The programme is based on double-testing systems already operating in Germany and Iceland.
If initial trials are given the green light by the UK’s Department for Transport, Heathrow hopes to switch to just one test on arrival with no need to quarantine at all if passengers are negative.
The facility at Terminal 2 has been kitted out with 24 booths for swab tests, each of which will be staffed by a nurse.
Families will be tested together, reducing waiting times. Anyone who chooses not to have a test, or who proves positive, would be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Experts point out that double testing has been backed by experts on the Sage committee of scientific advisers. The heads of BA, Virgin Atlantic, TUI and EasyJet yesterday wrote to UK ministers to urge them to take up airport testing – or risk losing vital trade routes.
BA boss Alex Cruz said: ‘We believe a UK testing protocol based on the German model would stimulate significant demand while protecting public health.
‘It would play a critical role both in supporting US-UK connectivity but also in safeguarding connections with key European and other global markets.’
Industry expert Paul Charles added: ‘If the government wants to save jobs and prevent travel operators collapsing, then ministers have to introduce a worldclass airport testing strategy to rebuild confidence in people travelling. Quarantine is simply not working.’