NEWS


Miles Morgan with his letter from David Davies MP


Shapps hints at imminent go-ahead for testing trial


Phil Davies and Ben Ireland


The transport secretary dropped his biggest hint yet that a Covid-19 airport testing trial will be introduced, suggesting it could be approved as early as this week. Testing on arrival in the


UK could halve the 14-day quarantine restrictions for people travelling from countries not on the government’s travel corridor list. Grant Shapps stressed quarantine


would still be required for arrivals from non-travel corridor countries but said it could be limited with airport testing, which he indicated would involve more than a single test due to potential asymptomatic cases. “The next stage is to enable


testing,” Shapps told the Conservative party conference on Monday. “The way to do that is to still have a period


travelweekly.co.uk


of quarantine but also to test and be able to release people. I will be saying more about that shortly.” He told The i newspaper that


any regime must be funded by the private sector because holidays are “discretionary” and testing should not put added strain on the NHS. Shapps’ comments


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came after Heathrow chief executive John Holland- Kaye told Travel Weekly a testing regime could be in place this month (Travel


Weekly, October 1). Travel consultancy The PC


Agency put forward a proposal to government for a two-test system whereby travellers from high-risk countries would show a negative test certificate on arrival then quarantine for only four days before paying to take a second test on the fifth day. Chief executive Paul Charles


said: “This would enable hotels, tour The way to do that


is to still have a period of quarantine but also to test and be able to release people


operators and airlines to offer pricing with tests included, making it easier for travellers to buy an all-inclusive travel package.” Meanwhile, ocean cruise line


members of Clia agreed on Tuesday to conduct Covid-19 testing of every passenger and crew member prior to embarkation. The association called the move a “travel industry first”. Developments followed a


renewed push by the Save Future Travel Coalition, which launched a fresh petition to government calling for “urgent progress on testing”, fully- regionalised quarantine and a review


of the Job Support Scheme, among five demands. Agents also reported responses


to their lobbying efforts from MPs. Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, is due to visit a Savvi Travel branch, while Pure Travel had a Zoom call with Halifax MP Holly Lynch and said she was “genuinely interested” after learning about how agencies are paid commission. Miles Morgan Travel owner


Miles Morgan said his MP, David Davies, had written to the chancellor to request “special consideration” be given to the travel sector, noting “people like Mr Morgan who have a viable business model will be able to rebuild after the pandemic”. A Department for Transport


spokesperson said: “Work is ongoing with clinicians and health experts on the practicalities of using testing to reduce the self-isolation period for international arrivals.”


8 OCTOBER 2020 5


PICTURE: Shutterstock


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