Passengers flying into the UK from abroad could be forced to quarantine once lockdown restrictions are eased, a Cabinet minister has confirmed today.
Unlike dozens of other countries who clamped down on international travellers, the UK has not been screening or quarantining people arriving from overseas - but that could change when flights begin to resume.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed new stringent restrictions could be implemented as early as next month to ensure that the UK is not "importing" coronavirus once the infection rate here begins to drop and to help prevent a second wave of infections.
The announcement comes amid reports suggesting that people who arrive into the UK will be asked to isolate for two weeks, according to the Daily Star.
Mr Shapps was asked if people arriving into the UK will go into quarantine on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
He said: "I think it’s important as we’re seeing the numbers decrease and the R rate we hope decrease…that we do ensure that the sacrifices in the sense of social distancing that we’re asking the British people to make are matched by anybody who comes to this country.
"So I am actively looking at these issues right now so that when we have infection rates within the country under control, we're not importing."
The move comes amid growing calls for tighter border restrictions, with Joanna Cherry, SNP's justice and home affairs spokeswoman, calling on Home Secretary Priti Patel to introduce urgent "border assessment centres".
Despite reports revealing that thousands of people a day were still flying into the UK airports last month without any form of checks, Mr Shapps defended the Government's open border policy.
The Transport Secretary claimed that advice from the Chief Medical Officer at the time was that closing the borders would have only delayed the arrival of the virus by up to five days and would have prevented stranded Brits from returning home.
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