Test BEFORE you fly home

Idea could more than halve self-isolation time to just five days

‘It’s critical this is signed off’

MINISTERS are exploring plans to cut the quarantine time for holidaymakers to just five days by testing them 48 hours before they arrive in the UK, it is claimed.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to have ‘warmly welcomed’ the proposal which would more than halve the 14-day self-isolation period.

Under plans by industry leaders, tourists and business travellers would undergo a second test five days after landing. If both tests are negative, they could leave quarantine.

This would satisfy experts on the Sage committee of scientific advisers, who say a second test around eight days after the first will pick up the vast majority of cases.

It would also allay Government concerns about the shortage of tests here by putting the onus on other countries to carry out the first tests.

The proposal is in its early stages and one of a range of options said to be under consideration.

It emerged as Mr Shapps told the Commons he is working ‘night and day’ to explore the possibility of airport testing regime – but warned it could take weeks to finalise.

He told MPs: ‘My officials are workdented ing with health experts with the aim of cutting the quarantine period without adding to infection risk or infringing our overall NHS test capacity.’

As quarantine restrictions were imposed on seven Greek islands, Airlines UK, the trade body representing British carriers, warned time is fast running out to save the industry.

They are calling on ministers to commit to testing within the next month to prevent fresh economy misery and further job losses.

And last night Adam Marshall, the head of the British Chambers of Commerce, warned that failure to introduce airport testing would lead to ‘significant job losses’.

Dr Marshall told the Daily Mail: ‘The imposition of blanket quarantine measures have been a hammer blow to the already fragile travel and tourism industries.

‘It also endangers international business and trade links that help drive the growth we need to encourage at a time when we face unpreceeconomic challenges. Coordinated checks at departure and arrival airports, together with a sophisticated testing system, would alleviate the need for measures that impact arrivals from every country.’

The Chambers of Commerce, which represents 75,000 businesses, has written to Mr Shapps and Business Secretary Alok Sharma to call for a German-style airport testing regime.

In another boost for the Mail’s campaign to Get Britain Flying Again, Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday said he is working with Mr Shapps on an overhaul of the rules.

He told LBC: ‘We are working to try to find a way to allow for the quarantine to be reduced, but done in a way that also keeps people safe.’

Although the Department for Transport has been supportive of airport testing, they have been met with resistance from other government departments worried about the risk of false negative test results.

However, there are signs of growing cabinet unity after Mr Hancock and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab pledged to review quarantine rules.

Downing Street is also said to have thrown its weight behind the plans.

Mr Shapps told MPs yesterday: ‘We are working actively on the practicalities of using testing to release people from quarantine earlier than 14 days.

‘This could not be a pure test-onarrival option. But my officials are working with health experts with the aim of cutting the quarantine period without adding to infection risk or infringing overall NHS test capacity.’

Tim Alderslade, chief of Airlines UK, said: ‘The Transport Secretary has intimated that good progress is being made but it’s critical this is signed off by Government and implemented by the end of this month.’

A DfT spokesman said: ‘Work is ongoing with clinicians, the devolved administrations and the travel industry to consider if and how testing could be used in the future to reduce the self-isolation period.’