HOLIDAY makers could be asked to self-isolate before the jet into the UK under new plans being drawn up by the government’s new travel task force.
The buffs made up of scientists, and government officials will also finally make a decision on testing those arriving into the UK for coronavirus – ten months after the pandemic started.
Under proposals announced yesterday passengers will be tested to be tested for covid after a period of self-isolation.
Insiders have told HOAR they will decide between cutting quarantine from 14 days to eight, seven or five days.
Ministers have referenced a recent study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which says that 94 per cent of cases are picked up after seven days, and over 80 per cent of infections are discovered after five.
The timeframes will still have to be signed off by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and will report back by early November.
The test will be taken privately and paid for by the passenger so they do not impact the NHS.
HOAR also understands that talks have been ongoing with the state department in the USA to start a period of self-isolation before travel, to restart transatlantic routes.
Yesterday Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The current measures at the border have saved lives.
“Our understanding of the science now means we can intensify efforts to develop options for a testing regime and help reinvigorate our world-leading travel sector.
“This new taskforce will not only help us move towards safer, smoother international travel as we continue to battle this virus but will also support global connectivity – helping facilitate more covid secure travel whilst protecting the population from imported cases.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: “It is vital we do everything we can to control the spread of the virus and our measures at the borders are designed to help keep the country safe, by preventing imported cases of COVID-19.
“We know how these measures have a significant impact on people’s lives and on the travel and tourism industries, so we are working hard across government to explore ways to open up international travel in a safe way.”
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, who has suggested a 5-day quarantine period plus test welcomed the announcement.
He said: “The intention to cut quarantine time by 50 per cent or more, with a single test, is welcome news.
“It will create more confidence to book and safely travel knowing there is a shorter self-isolation time that won’t impact the NHS.
“Hopefully the new travel taskforce will recommend quick and trouble-free implementation in November and provide more innovative solutions to getting travel moving again.
“The longer-term aim for international travel without quarantine cannot come soon enough and the whole sector will work to make that happen safely as quickly as possible.”
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA said the taskforce needs to start working fast.
He said: “The creation of the Global Travel Taskforce shows a recognition from Government of the need to get people travelling again to support the travel industry, which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis.
“The taskforce needs to focus on decisive and urgent action, not only on rapidly introducing a testing regime, but also on moving to a regionalised quarantine approach and lifting the global advisory against travel – returning to providing travel advice for individual countries based on the risk to a traveller in destination.
“Other countries have already moved to introduce testing, and further delays will only serve to exacerbate the industry’s struggles – especially as the winter season is fast approaching. With furlough ending this month, and the new Job Support Scheme doing little to support travel businesses, without tailored support we’ll see more job losses and businesses folding.”
Sources last night said the talks with other nations about self-isolation prior to travel would focus on “priority markets” like the coveted New York to London route.
