One in four border officials in isolation as Covid brings chaos to Heathrow
Government losing track of coronavirus cases entering the UK, Border Force union warns
Queues of up to a quarter of a mile have been reported at Heathrow airport after an outbreak of Covid-19 left Border Force short of staff.
As airports prepare for a surge in arrivals due to travel restrictions easing, “more than one in four border staff” were off work over the weekend at the UK’s busiest airport due to coronavirus regulations, The Times reports.
Of the 300 Border Force officials working at the airport, 80 were absent with Covid, while dozens more were forced into self-isolation because they had been in close contact with their colleagues.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The delays were exacerbated when a new security database caused hold-ups at automated gates, with the Daily Mail reporting that the Home Office’s £372m new security computer system was “crashing repeatedly” throughout the weekend.
The software failure meant all passengers were rejected by the E-gates in Heathrow’s arrivals halls and had to be checked manually by immigration officers. Passengers reported long queues and complained that a lack of social distancing risked spreading the virus to thousands of arrivals.
Tom Kibasi, deputy chair of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, shared a photograph on Twitter showing a queue “stretching the full length of Heathrow Terminal 5” – a distance of roughly a quarter of a mile.
Another delayed passenger, Carmen Ogilvie, posted a video of the tailbacks, adding: “Ridiculous queues for immigration at Heathrow. What’s the point of all these safety measures if this is our arrival?”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Passenger numbers are expected to surge from this morning as double-jabbed travellers from the EU and US will no longer have to quarantine on arrival in the UK.
A spokesperson for the airport conceded that queue times at border control had “on occasion been unacceptable”, but said this was due to Border Force carrying out spot checks to ensure passengers were complying with government entry requirements.
However, the union that represents Border Force officials has accused ministers of having no way of knowing if travellers are bringing Covid into the country.
The Union for Borders, Immigration and Customs told The i that since its officers were ordered by the government not to check the Covid status of incoming passengers in July, the UK has lost track of who is entering Britain with the virus.
Lucy Moreton, professional officer at the union, said that while airlines, Eurostar and ferry operators were meant to check passengers had tested negative, there is no system in place to confirm they are doing so.
She added that “like in the rest of society, officers are catching Covid at an increasing rate since lockdown restrictions were relaxed” which is “leading to longer queues for passengers”.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Guzzling passengers: should airports limit pre-flight boozing?
Talking Point Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary has called for a two drinks per passenger limit at airport bars
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Will European countries follow France to ban UK travel?
Under the Radar Paris blocks arrivals from Britain as Omicron cases spiral
By The Week Staff Published
-
Gallery: the top ten best airports in the world
In Pictures Hamad International Airport in Doha takes the No.1 spot in the 2021 Skytrax World Airport Awards
By The Week Staff Published
-
No. 10’s plan for airport Covid quarantine revealed - but is it too late?
feature Government to deploy security guards to enforce mandatory 11-night hotel stays
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
UK to bring in airport Covid tests for arrivals
Speed Read MPs call for stricter border measures as South African variant of coronavirus spreads
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
UK records biggest jump in transport use since pandemic began
Speed Read Monday rush hour sees spike in commuters across country as trains return to 90% of pre-coronavirus services
By Gabriel Power Last updated
-
Coronavirus: what are the odds of catching Covid-19 on a plane?
Speed Read Studies suggest air travel is safe despite concerns about air quality
By Holden Frith Last updated
-
Plane crashed ‘as distracted pilots discussed Covid fears’
Speed Read Preliminary report says ‘human error’ to blame for crash in Pakistan that claimed 98 lives
By Aaron Drapkin Last updated