Coronavirus: Millions entered UK in three months before lockdown but just 273 were quarantined
Written by News on 05/05/2020
Fewer than 300 people out of millions entering the UK were quarantined by the government in the three months before lockdown, figures show.
Nearly 18.1 million people arrived in the UK from all destinations between 1 January and 23 March.
But just 273 passengers from China and Japan were taken to government isolation centres during that period, according to data provided to Labour MP Stephen Doughty.
Passengers on three repatriation flights from Wuhan, the original epicentre of the virus, and another carrying passengers from the COVID-19-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship, were taken to Arrowe Park Hospital in the Wirral.
Mr Doughty had requested the information from the government to find out how many people arriving at the UK border from Spain, China, Italy, USA, Iran, Turkey and France were taken to government-supported COVID-19 quarantine centres in this period.
The breakdown was:
- 83 passengers who arrived on an evacuation flight from Wuhan on 31 January
- 11 passengers on a French-led evacuation flight, again from Wuhan, on 2 February
- 147 people on a final evacuation flight from Wuhan on 9 February
- 32 passengers who had been on board the Diamond Princess Cruise ship and were flown to the UK from Tokyo
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Some people arriving in the UK may have chosen to self-isolate at home, and they will not be included in the figures, which were first reported by The Guardian.
Questions have been raised about the government’s decision not to screen or quarantine more arrivals, which Home Secretary Priti Patel says is based on evidence from the scientific advisory group for emergencies (SAGE).
A government spokesperson said: “Our approach to tackling coronavirus is, and has always been, driven by the latest scientific and medical advice, and procedures at the border have been strictly following the latest government guidance throughout.
“The scientific advice showed that placing restrictions at the border would not have had a significant impact on the spread of the virus in the UK.
“Passenger numbers arriving in the UK are currently down by 99% but we continue to keep this under review.”
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Millions entered UK in three months before lockdown but just 273 were quarantined
