The British government has notified airlines that it will establish a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from abroad in hopes of averting a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic, the Federation of air Transport. The Prime Minister and the Interior Ministry refused to comment on this information, however. To date, the disease has killed 31,241 people in the country, the second heaviest death toll worldwide.
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Airlines UK, which notably represents British Airways, EasyJet and other industry players, said the move should be accompanied by a " credible exit plan" , adding that it should be reviewed every week. Airport operators, for their part, declared that this quarantine was likely to have a " devastating" impact on the air transport sector and on the economy as a whole.
Boris Johnson to speak on Sunday
The newspaper The Times , who first reported the news, said that the quarantine measures, which should enter into force in early June, provides that travelers entering the country communicate the address where they plan to s' isolate for two weeks upon arrival. " These measures will help protect British citizens and reduce the circulation of the virus as we enter the second phase of our response," the daily said, citing a government source.
Boris Johnson is due to announce next Sunday May 10 the next steps in the fight against the epidemic, which should include a slight easing starting next week of the confinement in force.
