Heathrow boss demands new ‘screening’ standards despite lack of tests

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said that governments should agree on a common standard on medical screening at all International airports. He claimed that one system for assessing

passengers’ health will help the airline industry recover after the coronavirus pandemic comes to an end. He explained: "Heathrow continues to serve the nation by keeping vital supply

lines open, and helping people get home. "Now is the time to agree a common international standard for healthcare screening in airports so that when this crisis recedes, people can

travel with confidence and we can get the British economy moving again." However, Twitter users have expressed their distress after it came to light that Heathrow Airport and other UK

airports were not testing passengers after they arrived from coronavirus hotspots. BACK BRITAIN’S BRAVE NHS HEROES - CLICK HERE NOW One user said: “I left Qatar on the 4th, scanned for a

temperature before I left. “At least it was something, arrived at Heathrow passing through for Glasgow and got f**k all testing.” READ MORE: HEATHROW AIRPORT: RUNWAY CLOSES AS AIR TRAFFIC

PLUMMETS IN MAJOR BLOW One user stood up for the airport and explained why testing and quarantine could be difficult. They said: “I guess because Heathrow is in the top three busiest

airports in the world. Testing and then quarantining 100,000+ visitors per day was a tad impossible (when you think about it).” However, Heathrow Airport explains on their website that

temperature checks are not mandatory as Public Health England has said that temperature checks are not “a required or effective way of keeping the public safe”. The website reads: “There are

currently no temperature checks at Heathrow for arriving flights, so you should not expect to see them when you land. “This is not a measure that Heathrow decided itself; we would like to

reassure you that Heathrow is following the guidance and advice of Public Health England (PHE) on which measures are required to contain and respond to coronavirus effectively. “According to

PHE’s medical, clinically informed, and evidence driven approach to identify those at risk, temperature checks are not a required or effective way of keeping the public safe. “The most

efficient and proven measures to combat the spread of this virus is for people to regularly wash their hands thoroughly and apply the government’s social distancing rules. “Whilst there are

no temperature checks for arriving passengers, the governments of some foreign countries are asking that passengers arriving in their country must have had their temperatures checked before

taking off from their departure airport as an entry requirement, so you may see this on departure from Heathrow. “We are working with relevant partners to ensure these actions can be

performed as and when necessary.” The huge London airport has also revealed that passenger numbers fell by 52 percent in March compared to March 2019. Heathrow has also warned that it expect

passenger numbers for the whole of April to plunge by 90 percent. The airport already decided on April 6 to use one runway for its operations. Two terminals are also expecting to be closed

in the next few weeks.