A WHO expert has issued and air bridge warning to the UK pleading 'don't be careless'.
Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisation's Covid-19 special envoy, urged the Government to “be careful” in setting up air bridges between countries to restart international travel.
Boris Johnson is expected to announce a list of countries that will have an air bridge with the UK any day now.
'Air bridges' to countries such as Spain, Turkey and Greece are set to be some of the first to be announced, with travel set to resume on July 4.
This will mean Brits can travel abroad for a summer holiday this year without having to quarantine.
And tourists from those countries will be able to enjoy a holiday here, in a much needed boost for the domestic tourism industry.
But Dr Nabarro told the BBC’s Today programme: “We’re right at this delicate phase where we can actually push this virus right down, suppress it, and get on with life and have a good life.
“But if we are just a little bit careless and we get one of these major what we call ‘spreader events’ where a lot of people get ill and then suddenly our health services get overwhelmed again, in the coming months or two we’re going to look at each other and feel really frustrated.
“So please when it comes to restarting international travel be careful.
"Make sure that these air bridge are between places with just about the same risk profile. Then it makes sense.
“But don’t be pushed into establishing air bridges that might then raise the risk of one or other country having a much higher level of disease.
“We would be very cross in two or three months’ time with ourselves if we don’t get this right.”
The FCO currently advises against all but essential travel but this is due to change following the air bridge annoucement.
