Covid-positive China arrivals to UK will not have to isolate

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said that the move to test those coming in from China was about “collecting information” as the Beijing government is not currently sharing its Covid data.

Testing will be voluntary for those arriving at Heathrow – the only UK airport with direct flights from China reportedly offering tests.

Mr Harper, on being asked if those who test positive after arriving in the UK will be required to quarantine, told LBC: “No, because what we are doing is we are collecting that information for surveillance purposes.”

Arrivals from China to the UK will be tested but will not be forced to isolate if they are positive (Image: PA)

He said there are “very high levels of vaccination” in the UK and encouraged older, more vulnerable people to “get their fourth booster shot this winter”.

Mr Harper added: “The policy for arrivals from China is primarily about collecting information that the Chinese government is not sharing with the international community.”

Under measures announced by Health Secretary Steve Barclay, passengers flying from China into England from Thursday will be required to take a Covid test before boarding a plane.

The Government will also carry out surveillance testing of a sample of passengers to try to spot new variants of the virus which could pose a threat.

There are no direct flights from China to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland but ministers said they are working with the devolved administrations to implement the measures UK-wide.

READ MORE: Covid tests for arrivals from China defended by Tory health committee chairman

All these measures are being taken because China is ending its zero-Covid controls and is allowing its citizens to take overseas trips, despite the fact that many are concerned about the potentially high numbers of cases in the country at the moment.

Mr Harper further commented on the action: “We are doing two things: we are requiring people who fly from China to have a pre-departure test so they have got to show that they are negative before they get on that flight, and when they get to the United Kingdom, the UK Health Security Agency will take a sample of passengers and test them.

“That is so that we get that information into our health system and we can track the virus that is coming from China.

“That, I think, is a very sensible, balanced proposition which I think helps keep people in the UK safe but doesn’t put any restrictions on how people in the UK are able to operate.”