Fears about Covid-19 transmission are growing as reports emerge of passengers being crowded together at airports and confusion around test-and-trace forms.
Prof Susan Michie, director of the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behavioural Science, told The Guardian that a family member who returned from Nice on Saturday was shocked by the conditions at Stansted.
The report said passengers from up to five planes were crowded on to shuttle trains and Michie’s relative received no information about the need to complete a passenger locator form.
Other passengers have told the Guardian that they were not asked for forms after arriving at UK airports including Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick.
“While the UK Border Force has said only 10% of passengers checked had not completed their forms, the latest revelations add to growing concern over a lack of checks and information among arrivals,” said the newspaper.
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A government spokesperson told The Guardian: “Airlines and other carriers are required to provide a reminder to travellers at the point of purchase, check-in and during travel about the need to complete the contact form and, where necessary, adhere to self-isolation measures.
“The latest guidance can be found on gov.uk and passengers should make sure they are familiar with it before travelling. Both Border Force and Public Health England carry out random spot-checks to ensure that people understand the requirements and are abiding by them.”
The Telegraph has launched a campaign backing tests at airports in order to reduce time needed for quarantine on return from many destinations.
It said: “There are also serious question marks over the effectiveness of the Passenger Locator Form, currently used to enforce quarantine on arrivals.
“[The police have] only enforced three £100 fines for those breaking quarantine, in two months.”