Fewer than 300 people quarantined as 18.1 million travellers entered UK before lockdown

Passengers arrive at Heathrow
PA
Ellena Cruse5 May 2020

Out of millions of visitors coming into the UK from coronavirus hotspots, less than 300 were put into quarantine in the three months before lockdown.

Data revealed 273 passengers travelling from China and Japan were taken to government isolation centres between January 1 and March 23.

These included travellers on three evacuation flights from Wuhan, where the virus first emerged.

During the same time, passenger figures showed just under 18.1 million people entered the UK from all destinations by air, sea or land.

The information was released to Labour MP Stephen Doughty and first published by the Guardian.

Mr Doughty submitted a parliamentary written question to find out how many people - who had arrived at UK borders from Spain, China, Italy, USA, Iran, Turkey and France - were taken to government-supported Covid-19 quarantine centres from January 1 to March 23.

More than 18 million people came into the UK in that time frame with less than 300 getting quarantined
AFP via Getty Images

He was told that 83 arrived on an evacuation flight from Wuhan on January 31, 11 more came on a French-led evacuation flight, again from Wuhan, on February 2, 147 people on a final evacuation flight from Wuhan on February 9 and 32 passengers who had been onboard the Diamond Princess Cruise ship and were flown to the UK from Tokyo.

It comes as the Government said in the future it may order people to self-isolate for 14 days when they arrive in the UK from abroad.

They would have to give officials the address of the place where they are planning to spend the two weeks of isolation.

On Sunday, Mr Shapps hinted at stronger measures to come and told the BBC: “I think it is important that as we are seeing the numbers decrease and the R rate we hope decrease… that we do ensure that the sacrifices in a sense – social distancing – that we are asking the British people to make are matched by anybody who comes to this country.

“I am actively looking at these issues right now so that when we have infection rates within the country under control we are not importing.”

A Government spokesman said: “Our approach to tackling coronavirus is, and has always been, driven by the latest scientific and medical advice, and procedures at the border have been strictly following the latest Government guidance throughout.

“The scientific advice showed that placing restrictions at the border would not have had a significant impact on the spread of the virus in the UK.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily

“Passenger numbers arriving in the UK are currently down by 99 per cent but we continue to keep this under review.”

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