The Traveller's Magazine
Home Office minister Norman Baker has defended the government’s decision to screen some people arrive in the UK from Ebola-stricked areas of Africa.
Those passengers arriving from Ebola areas will face “enhanced screening” at London’s biggest entry hubs: Heathrow, Gatwick and the Eurostar terminals. Ministers initially said there were no plans to screen people arriving from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone but Mr. Baker has confirmed that the government has changed its mind after receiving advice from the chief medical officer.
It’s an extra precaution which will see passengers asked a number of questions and then potentially given a medical assessment.
Heathrow is currently working with Public Health England to implement the new measures and hopes to reassure passengers that the risk of a traveller contracting Ebola is extremely low. So far, nothing has been implemented at Gatwick but airport officials expect they will be next for implementing the new measures.
