Some countries could be exempt from UK quarantine rules, Boris Johnson says

Boris Johnson has said that ‘air bridges’ removing the need to quarantine for 14 days after entering the UK may be in place before July.

They could give Brits the chance to travel abroad for their summer holidays without having to self-isolate for two weeks either before going away or after they come back.

But the prime minister said the scheme hinges on the UK continuing to drive the R rate down ‘as fast as we can’, with travel corridors only considered with countries whose coronavirus infection rate is ‘at least as good’ as ours.

Mr Johnson was quizzed about the measures by the Commons Liaison Committee.

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Huw Merriman, the Tory chairman of the transport select committee, said: ‘Many people have commented that a sensible regime would look at the countries and their R rate and if it’s below ours, then there should be no need for quarantine.

‘Whilst that may not be possible for June 8, will that be possible for the next three week period which is June 29, to allow those buying cheaper flights for their summer holidays, which have gone on sale today, to be removed from the threat of quarantine?’

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Mr Johnson replied: ‘Yes, absolutely – we want to make sure we use the three-week reviews to be sensible – we want to drive the R down as fast as we can in this country and to have as sensible a quarantine scheme as possible and to keep flows as generous as we can.’

Asked what would have to change between now and June 29 for ‘air bridges’ to be accepted, the PM said: ‘We will have to agree them with the other countries concerned but we will also have to make progress in tackling the disease, and we will have to have evidence that the other countries are in at least as good a position as we are.’

Mr Johnson was also asked during the session how quarantining people would not slow down the economic recovery from the pandemic.

The PM said: ‘I hope it will not retard the recovery of the economy by helping to prevent reinfection which could lead to a second outbreak and the R going over one again in such a way as to do serious economic damage, to necessitate another lockdown.’

The Home Office previously said travellers will be asked to provide contact information and health officials could perform spot checks during the two-week period to ensure they are complying with the measures.

People failing to adhere to the quarantine could face fines of £1,000.

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