Covid-19: Scientists express concern over lack of airport tests in UK

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), a governmental advisory body in the UK, has expressed concerns over the lack of Covid-19 testing at airports.

According to a The Guardian report, the scientists have warned that people are arriving to the UK from abroad and returning home without proper testing. This poses a threat to the coronavirus situation in the country.

The scientists added that testing at airports is unlikely to prevent fresh outbreaks. However, the steps will help in improving surveillance, as well as highlight the importance of quarantine.

In the UK, passengers who have travelled overseas are required to remain in a two-week-long quarantine.

However, poor compliance and a lack of testing at airports has increased resurgence risks of the disease in the UK.

The country’s daily number of Covid-19 cases has been on the rise for the last few days. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the country is seeing a ‘second wave’ of Covid-19.

In a Sage meeting earlier this month, advisors noted that around 6% of the population have antibodies against the novel coronavirus. However, this will not help in mitigating the impact of a winter resurgence, The Guardian further reported.

The UK has reported a total of 396,700 Covid-19 cases, as of 21 September. The death toll in the country is also among the highest in the world at 41,866.

Earlier this month, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) proposed a four-point plan to support the struggling aviation sector in the UK.