Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 54
54
Keeping measures in place while closely monitoring travel corridors and other exceptions will be important...
Conclusion
Keeping measures in place while closely monitoring travel corridors and other exceptions will be important to ensure that the UK does not reimport unmanageable levels of COVID-19. This is particularly important when there is doubt about the affordability—both economically, and in terms of goodwill—of a second national lockdown, and when seasonal pressures on the NHS begin to build over the autumn and into the winter months. In a situation as fast-moving as the COVID-19 pandemic, any delay in controlling new infections can have profound consequences; it is therefore of paramount importance that the Government reviews its border measures weekly and is able to respond quickly to changing patterns of infection, including by introducing further restrictions if needed. We do not take lightly the potential burden on individuals and the economy from closing borders and requiring quarantine, as well as the potential damage to the economy and to public health if the virus takes hold again; we also recognise that it can only be one strand in a wider, larger strategy of disease control. However, border health measures must form crucial part of any Government strategy to obtain and maintain control of the virus over the months to come. (Paragraph 236) Home Office preparedness for COOVDD19 (coronavirus): management of the borders 85
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
It is important to remember what the health measures at the border are about - protecting public health, managing a further peak of this deadly virus and that means controlling the risk of cases being imported from abroad. The Health Measures at the Border Regulations were introduced in early June when rates of infection in the UK were declining significantly and social distancing measures were being relaxed. In March, when rates of infection were high in the UK, international travel was severely reduced (as previously noted) and ‘stay at home’ guidance was in place, the scientific advice was that imported cases were likely to make a negligible difference to the overall rates of infection in the UK. But as rates declined, the advice was that the issue of imported cases could become materially significant. The Government had to consider, in a constantly evolving situation, what measures to introduce to mitigate against this risk. COVID-19 had been introduced into the UK by international travellers. It clearly was, and remains, of importance that imported cases should not lead to an increase in the number of infections in the UK and exacerbate the number of cases. We are committed to tackling this virus while enabling a sustainable and responsible return to travel. Travel corridors have stimulated demand in particular for aviation, with international passenger numbers handled at UK airports up around 400% between June and July to 3.1m passengers, though this is still 88% lower than the previous year. Flight numbers (and passenger numbers) continued to increase during August (when compared to June & July 2020). Overall flight traffic during August 2020, however, was still significantly below 2019 volumes (by 60%). It remains of importance that imported cases should not lead to an increase in the number of infections in the UK and exacerbate the number of COVID-19 cases. As such, ministerial decisions about relaxation of border measures have been informed by the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s preliminary assessment of the risks to public health, based on an approach developed in consultation with Public Health England and the Chief Medical Officer. We keep our methodology and approach to border measures under regular review to ensure that they remain effective and practical in light of the developing domestic and international health picture, and continued improvements in data availability over time. Any decisions on border measures will be informed by the latest public health information available. On 7 October, the Transport Secretary and the Health Secretary formally announced the creation of the Global Travel Taskforce to consider what steps the Government can take, both domestically and on the international stage, to enable the safe and sustainable recovery of international travel. The Taskforce will operate at considerable pace, and its work will culminate in a report from the Transport Secretary and the Health Secretary to the Prime Minister in early November.