To ask why we are bothering with lockdown if planes are still arriving unchecked

[blackwych]

Just that really. I just saw on the Guardian live feed that planes are still arriving from New York, there is no checking at the airport and everyone just disperses. How effective can the lockdown be if we are still importing coronavirus?

I just clicked on 8 random flights coming over the Atlantic and 100% of them were cargo flights.

Are people consistently being told on arrival to self isolate for 14 days though? My friends who flew into USA, New Zealand and singapore in the last two weeks (where they live) were all made to fully self isolate (as in not even go out for food) for two weeks. I haven’t heard if we are doing that here - I suspect not. I know that the disease is already here, but based on spreading theory, every new contact has an exponential impact so we should at least be trying to contain new infections from other countries.

Completely agree about the freight points.

I've not heard this. But they'll be people that need to come back to the uk if they have been in lockdown in a foreign country. I know some people trapped/isolated in another country as there are no planes to the uk.

One if my colleagues flew back from Canada last weekend, no checks no tests no isolation and was back at work on the Monday and we are NHS workers.

Still allowing visitors on ward also.

Very contradictory i think some of the rules

My friends who flew into USA, New Zealand and singapore in the last two weeks (where they live) were all made to fully self isolate (as in not even go out for food) for two weeks. I haven’t heard if we are doing that here - I suspect not.

You are correct, currently the UK authorities do diddly squat unless somebody has become symptomatic in flight and it has been spotted by the crew.., in which case the UK authorities have to be informed. TBH I'm not sure what happens next. So the default is passengers simply get off the aircraft in the UK at their airport of arrival and go on their way

..and yes, compare and contrast with e.g. Singapore where I believe if anybody has been in the UK or the US ( and possibly elsewhere now) they get a 14 day Stay at Home Notice. They've also stopped letting transit passengers on the few remaining UK-Oz flights that transit Singapore leaving the aircraft and having a brief leg stretch during the stop...

A friend of mine has a friend moving in to share his flat on Tuesday.
She is flying from Spain.
She is not coming after being trapped there. That's where she lived.
It's madness.

And how are you going to check arrivals, many of whom are merely British nationals trying to access free NHS, when they do not qualify as being ordinarily resident ? Coronavirus tests for all ? Then keep them isolated until results come back ? And quarantine those infected ? Where, when, how ? Manpower, nurses...

Every returning ex UK student into Asia is being tested and it is evident from the scores of positives emerging that the UK is the hot bed of infection, so much so that Hong Kong and Singapore refuse entry to Brits now.

Singapore and Hong kong do not allow people who have no residency rights to enter or transit as the testing and self isolation proved to be futile.

The virus is here. We aren't trying to stop it getting in anymore. The few people that are arriving will go into the same measures we are all under.

We need flights for all the reasons mentioned above.

1. We're not actually in a lockdown (yet). It's just social distancing guidance
2. The social distancing isn't about getting rid of the virus, it's so everyone doesn't get it all at once
3. I've read a lot of places are checking people for fever, etc before getting on the plane. What's the point of checking when you get off and would have already infected everyone on the flight with you?

Relative flying back from Thailand tonight. As of 21st March, any non Thai citizen flying to Thailand had to have proof of medical insurance cover for $100,000 for Covid-19. and a negative test result for Covid-19 taken within the last 72 hours.
Nothing needed on arrival in UK

My friend flew back from Thailand a few days ago. His temperature was checked before he got on each of the two legs of his flight. So anyone with that symptom would have been prevented from flying anyway. If all departure airports were doing that, then there wouldn't be an urgent need to check them on arrival.

No instruction to self-isolate, but he is doing anyway.

For those wondering how it works. Dh landed in China, filled out forms regarding where he had been for last 14 days, temp check, issued with hazmat suit, taken to testing centre, tested, put in bus to home city, taken to quarantine centre, pay for quarantine and voila you stay for 14 days.
Every day staff come and take his temperature. He must also take his temp in the evening. Meals left outside room. He can have deliveries three times per week. Waiting for test results, but will still need to stay 14 days. Day 15 free to go home.
Quarantine centre is a requisitioned hotel so no medical staff as nobody is actually ill.

Those returning to Singapore are all expected to self-isolate for 14 days - the government has arranged accommodation at several of the hotels / service apartments that are seeing a severe drop in business during this time. The returnees are driven to their isolation rooms and they remain there for the duration. Food provided - left outside the room, and clothing all collected in special laundry bags for cleaning. Entire costs covered by the government.

people are still trying to get back though

hardly holiday makers

Relatives in NZ have been letting people in camper vans park on their land as they have nowhere to go during lockdown. They are being really strict there it seems.

I agree that planes should not be grounded now at a time when the UK needs vital supplies. Alot of cargo arrives on commercial flights, not dedicated cargo planes. To stop the supply chain to UK would make everything alot worse. At this point the cat is already out of the bag, we should of been doing arrivals forms, temperature checking, and contact tracing months ago. Unfortunately the government and UK populus have not taken this seriously untill only few weeks ago.

One if my colleagues flew back from Canada last weekend, no checks no tests no isolation and was back at work on the Monday and we are NHS workers.

Wow, just wow - that's bad!

Flights arriving in Sydney over the weekend, all passengers have been quarantined in hotels in the city. Must stay there for 2 weeks.

Once it reaches the level we have, importing it makes no difference. It’s how you stop the spread once those individuals arrive that’s important and they’ll be into the same lockdown as the rest of us.

My lovely husband is stuck abroad waiting to come home (he was made redundant and his work wouldnt release him until it was too late, we managed to get a flight just before it got difficult). I'm a registered nurse waiting to start working but can't until I have someone to look after our children. So while we will make sure he self isolates it would be really good if they didnt close the borders.

Bloody hope they dont close the airports
Some of us are still waiting for loved ones to come home.

Australia is only letting Australians in, and then they have to be quarantined in a hotel for 14 days.

2/3 of our cases are from overseas so it makes sense.

It’s not effective now