Boris Johnson outlined in his speech on Sunday May 10 the possibility of quarantine for " plane arrivals in the country » : "It will soon be time" to impose them, said the British Prime Minister, in order to avoid "Re-infections from abroad". For many epidemiologists, such a measure would end an aberration in terms of public health.
Paradoxically, the country of Brexit is one of the very few in Europe to have introduced no control at its borders, in ports, stations and airports, not taking advantage of its status as an island to counter the epidemic. No temperature control has, for example, been implemented at the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras station, or at Heathrow, the country's main airport, where air traffic has dropped considerably, but still arrives daily 15 000 people from abroad on commercial flights.
Checking the temperatures and quarantining passengers with signs of infection, at the height of an epidemic peak, would have a marginal effect on the level of the epidemic in the country, has repeatedly justified Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific advisor of the government. But in recent weeks, the tone has changed: Downing Street was no longer hiding that with the slowdown of the epidemic, the option of a quarantine could be imposed.
"A reciprocal basis"
It should be fourteen days after arrival on British soil. In requisitioned hotels or at the homes of the people concerned if they have one in the UK? The government is expected to clarify in the coming days. At this point, however, travelers from France should be exempt, according to a joint statement released by Downing Street and the Elysee Palace on Sunday evening.
However, quarantine measures between the two countries have not been ruled out: Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron, who spoke on the phone on Sunday, "Spoke of the need to control the risk of new transmissions from abroad" and "Have agreed to work together to take appropriate border measures (…). Any measure (on one side of the border) would be taken in concert and on a reciprocal basis ", added the press release, specifying that a Franco-British working group will be set up to ensure this bilateral consultation.
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