UK offers hope of an Aussie quarantine exemption

Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondent

May 19, 2020 – 8.24am

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London | The British government has raised the possibility that countries such as Australia and New Zealand might be able to skip the looming 14-day quarantine regime for all arrivals into Britain.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the anti-coronavirus self-isolation regime, which will come into force in early June, would initially have blanket application.

UK transport secretary Grant Shapps. Bloomberg

But he said that after the initial implementation period, the rules could be loosened for countries with very low COVID-19 infection rates. He did not mention Australia by name, but it would be an obvious candidate.

"We should indeed consider further improvements, for example things like air bridges enabling people from other countries who have themselves achieved lower levels of coronavirus infection to come to the country," he told Parliament.

"So those are active discussions, but will go beyond what will initially be a blanket situation."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson first flagged the quarantine plan on May 11, having imposed no restrictions on incoming visitors throughout the peak of Britain's coronavirus epidemic.

Given Australia also operates a 14-day self-isolation regime for arrivals, a round trip to Britain from Australia would include a month in quarantine all up – in effect ruling out almost all business and leisure travel.

Air bridge: Britain may exempt travellers from countries with low infection rates. AP

Britain's airlines are waging a rearguard action against the British government's plan, led by outspoken Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. In his latest salvo on Monday, he called the proposal "idiotic" and "unenforceable".

The British system would require incoming travellers to submit an address at which they would pass their self-isolation period, or else opt to stay in government-facilitated accommodation.

Initially it was suggested that travellers arriving from France might be exempted, but it appears that exception applies only to European lorry drivers arriving from the Continent.

Mr Johnson's move comes as many European countries are starting to discuss easing their border restrictions.

Any moves on the Continent are unlikely to bring much succour to would-be Australian travellers: most easing measures apply only to citizens from the rest of the European Union.

France and Spain have recently introduced 14-day quarantine measures, but France is looking to loosen entry restrictions for Germans and other neighbouring countries. Germany's own 14-day quarantine rule will end on June 15 for arrivals from the EU and Britain.

Italy has announced it will reopen for tourism on June 3 – again, only for EU nationals living in the Schengen visa-free zone.

"We're facing a calculated risk in the knowledge that the contagion curve may rise again," Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on television at the weekend. "We have to accept it otherwise we will never be able to start up again."

Hans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London. Connect with Hans on Twitter. Email Hans at hans.vanleeuwen@afr.com