Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessments her Department is undertaking on the effectiveness of the approaches of other countries on testing individuals arriving at airports from abroad.

Home Office Ministers continue to take advice from the scientific advice bodies, such as SAGE and Public Health England on the effectiveness of testing individuals on arrival. This includes other countries’ experiences.

Self-isolation requirements were introduced on 8 June for those coming into the UK to reduce the risk of new cases of infection being brought into the UK from overseas. This policy is a crucial part of our plan to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections in the UK. For the moment, temperature screening does not form part of measures imposed at the border as it is assessed not to provide an effective indication of being infected with coronavirus. Travellers may remain asymptomatic or will be able to mask symptoms, such as a high temperature, through medication.

There remain in place procedures for dealing with passengers who report as symptomatic upon arrival.