UK could quarantine all arrivals

Monday 27 April 2020

Anyone hoping for a relaxation of the Bailiwick's borders so they can visit family in the UK may have seen their hopes dashed further with the news the UK is also going to start making arrivals self isolate for 14 days.

Until now, anyone flying in to the UK has not had to isolate themselves unless they were known to have symptoms of corona virus, or had recently tested positive.

The number of people flying in and out of the UK has fallen as the global covid-19 pandemic took hold, but only now is the UK government looking at forcing arrivals to self isolate.

Guernsey introduced the rule, on behalf of the whole Bailiwick, during March - before the islands went into lockdown. While travel between the islands is limited to only essential trips no one has to self isolate within the Bailiwick - but anyone arriving from the UK or elsewhere does.

Other countries with similar rules include France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. 

Plans are now being drawn up by UK officials which could see similar moves there.

Pictured: (file image) Boris Johnson is back to work at Downing Street after being ill himself with covid-19. 

The Mail on Sunday reported that the plan – similar to one operated by Singapore – was agreed during a meeting of Ministers and officials on Wednesday. 

"Officials were told to look at ways to enforce compliance, including large fines or even criminal prosecution, under powers introduced by the Coronavirus Act," the newspaper reported yesterday. 

The paper also reported that UK authorities could visit registered addresses of arrivals to ensure they were not breaking their quarantine and that the emergency legislation would give immigration officials the power to remove a potentially infectious person to a suitable place for screening and assessment, and for public health officers to enforce restrictions on movement. 

This is similar to powers recently agreed for Guernsey Police and Border Agency under direction given by the Director of Public Health.

The Independent reports that the number of people flying into the UK was averaging around 15,000 daily, 10 days ago.

The paper also reported yesterday that the rules would apply to anyone, even British Citizens returning from working abroad, suggesting the measures might apply to residents within the Crown Dependencies too.

The Independent wrote that sources had told its reporters the new measures could be in place "as early as mid-May".

"The length of deployment would depend on many factors, including the incidence of coronavirus among those who are obliged to self-isolate. But it would probably last for months rather than weeks," reported the Independent.

Pictured: Dr Brink speaking at a recent press briefing. 

The latest corona virus statistics for the UK, at the time of writing, show there have been more than 20,000 fatalities linked with covid-19, while more than 150,000 people have tested positive for the virus. The UK's population is currently just under 67million.

Guernsey has a population of just under 63,000 according to data given in the most recent rolling electronic census. There have been 247 confirmed cases of corona virus in Guernsey, with none in the other islands of the Bailiwick. There have been 13 confirmed deaths and four presumptive deaths, linked with covid-19. 

Recently, the Bailiwick's Director of Public Health had said the islands had successfully "squashed the curve" in dealing with covid-19.

Dr Nicola Brink was pleased with the falling number of active cases of corona virus and the increasing number of "recovered' cases. 

The Bailiwick has entered phase two of its lockdown with heavy restrictions remaining in place, but more people now able to return to work.

It was said last week that the island's borders would remain closed for now and would likely be opened again during phase four, with no indication yet of when that may be.