Hauliers to be tested at border as third wave engulfs Europe
HAULIERS entering the UK are to face a mass testing regime as fears over Europe’s third wave intensified last night.
The Government is planning to implement the changes days after Boris Johnson warned that tougher measures were needed for arrivals from the Continent.
Last night, as European governments warned that their hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases, there were fresh fears that France and other European countries could be added to the travel ‘red list’ within days. A
Government review is also soon to report about the future of foreign holidays this summer, amid concerns that the ban – which lasts until at least May 17 – could be extended due to the Continent’s third wave.
Previously staff such as lorry drivers and border force officials had been exempted from testing. But this is expected to change imminently despite anxieties more controls could disrupt food supplies.
Ministers are due to announce that hauliers will have to take lateral flow tests once they arrive in the UK rather than at the border.
Those staying longer than two days will have to have a test within 48 hours of arriving and then every 72 hours. This will be enforced through fines similar to the £2,000 penalties for travellers who fail to test during home quarantine.
Border force staff involved in cross-Channel work will face mandatory tests three times a week with similar arrangements for those working on trains and ferries.
It comes as France recorded a further 42,000 infections yesterday and almost 900 deaths – bringing the country’s total death toll to more than 94,000.
German infection rates have also jumped in recent weeks, driven by the easing of lockdown measures and the emergence of the more transmissible Kent variant.
This has led scientists to warn that the next wave could be the worst so far. Yesterday Germany’s disease control chief Lothar Wieler, from the Robert Koch Institute, warned that cases could hit 100,000 a day.
However, a Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘We are carefully monitoring the increase in cases in Europe and will keep all measures under review as we cautiously remove restrictions throughout our roadmap.’
‘Cases could hit 100,000 a day’