Heathrow Airport kicks against quarantine; proposes COVID-19 tests for arriving passengers

Due to the inconveniences that mandatory 14-day quarantine would cause travellers to the United Kingdom, Heathrow Airport has proposed plans for a new coronavirus testing facility which would allow travellers to leave quarantine early.

According to the airport’s proposal, arriving passengers would undertake COVID-19 tests and have results sent to them in seven hours. Arrivals will be required to undergo a second test at home, and if they pass both, will not need to follow quarantine rules. However, this scheme requires Government approval before it can begin.

“Testing will not only avoid the ‘quarantine roulette’ that so many passengers faced in Spain and France, but it will also open up flights to key trading partners such as the US,  Canada and Singapore,” the chief executive of Heathrow, John Holland-Kaye has said.

“We urge Government to work with us to trial a solution which could help to provide more certainty,” said the Airport’s spokesman.

Until the government gives approval to the proposal presented by Heathrow Airport, travellers to the UK are to provide their contact and journey details before arriving in the country. Also, aside from persons exempted from border rules in the UK, all other persons arriving in the UK are to self-isolate for 14 days. According to the UK self-isolation guidelines, you are not to leave the place where you are staying for 14 days.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate advice on self-isolation.

In England, if you do not self-isolate, you can be fined £1,000. If your address changes within the self-isolation period and you do not update your contact detail form, you can be fined up to £3,200.