More than 15,000 a day still arriving at UK airports from vi

More than 15,000 a day still arriving at UK airports from virus-hit countries

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the flights were still arriving into Britain but no health checks or screenings for the deadly coronavirus are in place


DAILY MIRROR

Saturday 18th April 2020

Some 15,000 travellers a day are still arriving on flights into the UK and not being tested for coronavirus.

People on flights from other virus-hit countries like Italy, the US and China are being admitted without any kind of health checks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday.

He revealed that the equivalent of 105,000 people a week are flying in from all over the world.

The British government has not imposed any health checks or compulsory quarantine periods in for people arriving into UK airports.

People in the UK have been urged not to travel unless its essential, but the airports have not been closed down.


British nationals arrive at Heathrow Airport from the Philippines (Image: David Dyson)
But Mr Hancock insisted that the flow of people coming to Britain will not make a significant difference, since the virus is already so widespread.

He said that routine screening of passengers arriving into UK airports isn’t happening because the number of people had “dropped very dramatically”.

Mr Hancock said: “At the current rate of transmission here, the scientists say that the epidemiological impact of keeping the travel open is very small, because there's already large transmission here.


Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the admission yesterday (Image: PA)

Airline passengers wear protective masks as they arrive at Heathrow Airport (Image: David Dyson)
“But what I want to do is see the transmission rates here come down, which is why following this guidance is so important.”

Earlier this week, Heathrow Airport said passenger numbers for March 2020 fell by 52 per cent compared with 2019, with demand for April expected to fall by 90%.

They’ve also made the decision to close down two terminals.

In a customer email, the airport said: “As part of Heathrow’s efforts to stay as safe as possible, airline operations will start to temporarily relocate from Terminals 3 and 4 to Terminals 2 and 5 from Thursday April 16, 2020.

"If you are travelling, please check our terminal guide for your airline.”

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Government to bring home stranded Britons in Sierra Leone

The Government has arranged a repatriation flight from Sierra Leone to Britain on Wednesday.

British tourists, short-term visitors and their direct dependants will be able to book tickets for £600 per person but only those who are normally resident in the UK will be eligible to travel.

The flight will leave Freetown International Airport at 6.55pm on April 22, arriving at London Stansted Airport in the early hours of April 23.

Passengers travelling from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, must report to the Sea Coach terminal in the Aberdeen area of the city between 12pm and 3pm on Wednesday.

It comes as hundreds of Britons stuck in Bangladesh are to be repatriated after the Government chartered four flights as part of a new push to rescue more than 7,000 passengers from south Asia.

Foreign Office announces four charter flights from Bangladesh to the UK

The Foreign Office has announced four charter flights from Bangladesh to the UK, bringing back up to 850 British people.

The flights will depart for London from Dhaka on April 21, 23, 25 and 26, with accompanying transfers from Sylhet.

Priority will initially be given to those most at risk from coronavirus, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Lord Ahmad, minister of state for South Asia and the Commonwealth, said: "We are in a truly unprecedented situation and I know people are concerned about getting home to their loved ones.

"Foreign Office staff in the UK and Bangladesh have been working tirelessly with the Bangladeshi authorities to help British travellers who want to come back to the UK and these flights mean people can now do that."

Foreign Office announces four charter flights from Bangladesh to the UK

The Foreign Office has announced four charter flights from Bangladesh to the UK, bringing back up to 850 British people.

The flights will depart for London from Dhaka on April 21, 23, 25 and 26, with accompanying transfers from Sylhet.

Priority will initially be given to those most at risk from coronavirus, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Lord Ahmad, minister of state for South Asia and the Commonwealth, said: "We are in a truly unprecedented situation and I know people are concerned about getting home to their loved ones.

"Foreign Office staff in the UK and Bangladesh have been working tirelessly with the Bangladeshi authorities to help British travellers who want to come back to the UK and these flights mean people can now do that."

its surprising how many UK citizens were or are still abroad.. I can only assume this is happening all over the world