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Just as Air Travel Is Picking Up, U.K. Imposes a Quarantine Just as Air Travel Is Picking Up, U.K. Imposes a Quarantine
(about 5 hours later)
LONDON — When the coronavirus was spreading at breakneck speed this spring, Britain’s government flatly refused to quarantine travelers, even those arriving from virus hot spots like Spain or Iran.LONDON — When the coronavirus was spreading at breakneck speed this spring, Britain’s government flatly refused to quarantine travelers, even those arriving from virus hot spots like Spain or Iran.
On Monday, as most Western European countries and the United States were easing restrictions, the government introduced a plan requiring everyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days.On Monday, as most Western European countries and the United States were easing restrictions, the government introduced a plan requiring everyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days.
That includes even people from places like New Zealand, a nation that has declared itself free of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.That includes even people from places like New Zealand, a nation that has declared itself free of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s belated change of heart over quarantines has enraged airlines, frustrated travelers and upset lawmakers fearful of the economic damage. Experts doubt that the quarantine measures can be enforced, and question why a nation with one of Europe’s worst infection rates should try now to deter international travel.Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s belated change of heart over quarantines has enraged airlines, frustrated travelers and upset lawmakers fearful of the economic damage. Experts doubt that the quarantine measures can be enforced, and question why a nation with one of Europe’s worst infection rates should try now to deter international travel.
To the government’s critics, the new rule is just one of many examples of the mismanagement of the pandemic by Mr. Johnson: a procession of slipshod, overpromising proposals, usually behind the curve and driven more by politics than the science he routinely cites.To the government’s critics, the new rule is just one of many examples of the mismanagement of the pandemic by Mr. Johnson: a procession of slipshod, overpromising proposals, usually behind the curve and driven more by politics than the science he routinely cites.
“This is at something of a piece with the way this crisis has been handled by the government,” said Anand Menon, a professor of European politics at King’s College London. “The reaction has tended to be late, and there is always an eye to the politics.”“This is at something of a piece with the way this crisis has been handled by the government,” said Anand Menon, a professor of European politics at King’s College London. “The reaction has tended to be late, and there is always an eye to the politics.”
Mr. Johnson’s original hesitancy over closing pubs and restaurants and ordering a full lockdown cost a significant number of lives, according to John Edmunds, a government adviser and professor of infectious disease modeling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.Mr. Johnson’s original hesitancy over closing pubs and restaurants and ordering a full lockdown cost a significant number of lives, according to John Edmunds, a government adviser and professor of infectious disease modeling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The government has also struggled to create a system to test for the disease then trace the contacts of those with the virus. And while other countries urged the use of face coverings, Britain demurred. Now it says they will soon be compulsory on public transport.The government has also struggled to create a system to test for the disease then trace the contacts of those with the virus. And while other countries urged the use of face coverings, Britain demurred. Now it says they will soon be compulsory on public transport.
Although most politicians and public health experts think that the quarantine has come so late as to be of little effect, it is thought to be popular with the working-class voters in northern England Mr. Johnson is hoping to court. Many of them voted for the Tories last December for the first time in their lives, and they are not likely to travel abroad themselves.Although most politicians and public health experts think that the quarantine has come so late as to be of little effect, it is thought to be popular with the working-class voters in northern England Mr. Johnson is hoping to court. Many of them voted for the Tories last December for the first time in their lives, and they are not likely to travel abroad themselves.
“It makes very little practical sense to have a blanket quarantine, let alone one that is very, very, hard to enforce,” Mr. Menon said. “The only question is whether it makes political sense.”“It makes very little practical sense to have a blanket quarantine, let alone one that is very, very, hard to enforce,” Mr. Menon said. “The only question is whether it makes political sense.”
Under the new quarantine rules, people entering Britain by plane, train or ferry must fill out a form giving an address where they will self-isolate for two weeks, with fines of up to £1,000, about $1,260, for breaches.Under the new quarantine rules, people entering Britain by plane, train or ferry must fill out a form giving an address where they will self-isolate for two weeks, with fines of up to £1,000, about $1,260, for breaches.
How thoroughly the scheme will be policed is far from clear.How thoroughly the scheme will be policed is far from clear.
But beyond that, those arriving in the country are not being given a temperature test — and are allowed to use public transport.But beyond that, those arriving in the country are not being given a temperature test — and are allowed to use public transport.
The government’s explanation for the late-stage quarantine is that earlier in the pandemic, when the virus was circulating widely in the community, it made little difference whether or not new cases were imported.The government’s explanation for the late-stage quarantine is that earlier in the pandemic, when the virus was circulating widely in the community, it made little difference whether or not new cases were imported.
Now, with the number of daily deaths down to double figures, it is important to stop imported cases from producing a second spike in infections, government officials say. Given how hard hit the country has been hit — the disease has killed more than 40,000 people in Britain — it makes sense to proceed with caution, they say.Now, with the number of daily deaths down to double figures, it is important to stop imported cases from producing a second spike in infections, government officials say. Given how hard hit the country has been hit — the disease has killed more than 40,000 people in Britain — it makes sense to proceed with caution, they say.
“The public health measures at the border that are being introduced from today are the latest cross-government measures in our collective response and fight to save lives, protect the British people and, importantly, prevent a second wave of coronavirus,” said Britain’s home secretary, Priti Patel.“The public health measures at the border that are being introduced from today are the latest cross-government measures in our collective response and fight to save lives, protect the British people and, importantly, prevent a second wave of coronavirus,” said Britain’s home secretary, Priti Patel.
Nonetheless the plan, to be reviewed every three weeks, is only workable with a series of exemptions, including for truck drivers, fruit pickers, government officials and medical workers, in addition to anyone arriving from Ireland.Nonetheless the plan, to be reviewed every three weeks, is only workable with a series of exemptions, including for truck drivers, fruit pickers, government officials and medical workers, in addition to anyone arriving from Ireland.
Updated July 22, 2020 Updated July 23, 2020
“Scientists say the quarantine has come too late, the police say it’s unenforceable, the tourism and aviation industry say it will ruin them,” said Conor McGinn, who speaks for the opposition Labour Party on home affairs issues. He argued for a testing regime at airports.“Scientists say the quarantine has come too late, the police say it’s unenforceable, the tourism and aviation industry say it will ruin them,” said Conor McGinn, who speaks for the opposition Labour Party on home affairs issues. He argued for a testing regime at airports.
Critics have called in vain on the government to publish the scientific advice it says it relied upon to justify the quarantine. On Monday, Ms. Patel, the home secretary, once again insisted without elaboration that the policy was based on scientific and medical guidance.Critics have called in vain on the government to publish the scientific advice it says it relied upon to justify the quarantine. On Monday, Ms. Patel, the home secretary, once again insisted without elaboration that the policy was based on scientific and medical guidance.
Acknowledging the possible economic costs, Ms. Patel told lawmakers that the government was exploring the creation of “air bridges” that would allow Britons to travel abroad for a summer vacation without quarantine obligations.Acknowledging the possible economic costs, Ms. Patel told lawmakers that the government was exploring the creation of “air bridges” that would allow Britons to travel abroad for a summer vacation without quarantine obligations.
The government was also looking at “immunity passports” for people who have recovered from the virus and are immune from infection, and how to digitalize the response at the border, she said.The government was also looking at “immunity passports” for people who have recovered from the virus and are immune from infection, and how to digitalize the response at the border, she said.
Whether some Britons will be able to take a foreign summer vacation remains unclear, however. The French government has said that travelers arriving from Britain, whatever their nationality, would also be asked to enter a 14-day isolation from Monday.Whether some Britons will be able to take a foreign summer vacation remains unclear, however. The French government has said that travelers arriving from Britain, whatever their nationality, would also be asked to enter a 14-day isolation from Monday.
Already reeling from the impact of the pandemic, the travel industry is furious with the British government, and three airlines are considering legal action against the government. “These measures are disproportionate and unfair on British citizens, as well as international visitors arriving in the U.K.,” said British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair in a statement.Already reeling from the impact of the pandemic, the travel industry is furious with the British government, and three airlines are considering legal action against the government. “These measures are disproportionate and unfair on British citizens, as well as international visitors arriving in the U.K.,” said British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair in a statement.
In an interview with Sky News, Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, used less legalistic language to describe the British plan.In an interview with Sky News, Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, used less legalistic language to describe the British plan.
“I think people in the U.K. know that the quarantine is useless,” he said. “It is a political stunt.”“I think people in the U.K. know that the quarantine is useless,” he said. “It is a political stunt.”