LONDON: Transport secretary Grant Shapps has hinted that the quarantine period from high risk countries could be halved.
He told Sky News it was possible the government may cut the period from 14 to seven days, followed by a Covid test.
The news comes as the industry deals with the fallout from the latest travel update which has seen governments across the UK draw different conclusions to medical advice, a situation described as ‘bewildering’ by the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Questioned on the continuing quarantine issue and testing, Shapps suggested changes could be on the way.
“You probably have to have some kind of quarantine period here, perhaps seven or eight days, maybe a test then,” he said.
“But these are the things we’re working through at the moment.”
Shapps said he had heard calls for testing and had spoken to Heathow Airport boss John Holland-Kaye.
“It’s not that we’re ignoring the great work they’re doing on trialling tests,” he said. “But I’ve spoken to my opposite number, for example my French opposite number. They did put testing in but of course realised it isn’t actually the silver bullet solution to this.
“What you’ve got to be able to do is test further down the line with a period of quarantine as well.
