Taskforce to develop testing strategy for international arrivals to support tourism
A Global Travel Taskforce has been set the aim of reducing quarantine requirements and supporting the safe recovery of international travel.
The taskforce, launched by the Department of Transport today, has been examining the practicalities of testing international arrivals into the UK, and will develop options for how this can be introduced.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: "The current measures at the border have saved lives. Our understanding of the science now means we can intensify efforts to develop options for a testing regime and help reinvigorate our world-leading travel sector.
"This new taskforce will not only help us move towards safer, smoother international travel as we continue to battle this virus but will also support global connectivity – helping facilitate more covid secure travel whilst protecting the population from imported cases."
The taskforce will look at proposals including a single test taken after a period of self-isolation, provided by the private sector and at the cost of the passenger.
It will also explore alternative testing models, including pilots with partner countries to ascertain whether self-isolation could be undertaken pre-departure.
It will be jointly chaired by Shapps and health secretary Matt Hancock and will also consider other options to boost safe and sustainable tourism and business travel.
Hancock said: "It is vital we do everything we can to control the spread of the virus and our measures at the borders are designed to help keep the country safe, by preventing imported cases of Covid-19.
"We know how these measures have a significant impact on people's lives and on the travel and tourism industries, so we are working hard across government to explore ways to open up international travel in a safe way.
"The group will consult closely with partners from the aviation, travel, healthcare and testing sectors as well as the devolved administrations to implement measures to support the recovery of the travel sector. The taskforce is expected to put forward their initial recommendations next month."
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