Portugal has been excluded from the “travel corridors” established by the United Kingdom with dozens of countries to exempt British tourists from quarantine when returning from holidays, but passengers originating in Portugal are passing unchecked at London airports.
Portuguese João Faneca told Lusa news agency that he was surprised when he arrived with his family from Porto at Luton airport, in London, this week and passed without being asked to fill in any form or provide personal data.
“I was in the queue for passport control and saw everyone pass normally. When it was our turn, we showed our documents, but they didn't ask us where we came from and we didn't have to fill in anything,” he said.
The situation happened to other Portuguese emigrants in at least one more London airport, from Stansted, other sources told Lusa.
The councilor for the Portuguese Communities, António Cunha, said he was aware of at least three other people who had returned from Portugal without having asked for any paper or contact, creating confusion.
“They didn't ask for anything, they didn't ask for papers or contacts, so they're not quarantining”, he added.
Currently, everyone arriving in the UK by plane, boat or train, including British citizens, must provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days and could be fined £100 (€110) for not filling out a form with these Details.
As of today, 75 countries and territories such as Italy, Greece, France and Germany are exempt from this measure, but Portugal was excluded from the list due to an increase in recent weeks in the number of cases of infection with Covid-19, especially in the area from Lisbon.
For passengers arriving from Portugal and other countries considered to be at high risk, it is mandatory to fill in a form within 48 hours before arriving in the UK, which needs to be shown on arrival at the border, at the airport, either printed on paper or in the mobile phone.
Authorities can contact by telephone or visit the location indicated by passengers where the quarantine would be carried out to confirm that they are complying with the rules, with infractions punishable by a fine of up to 1.100 pounds (XNUMX euros), but there is no information at any time have been applied.
João Faneca told Lusa that a compatriot who also had not filled out the form was unexpectedly visited by the police at home to confirm that he was in isolation and Lusa knows of other cases of people who had to show the form upon arrival in London.
The Community Councilor, António Cunha, said that the quarantine issue is confusing many people and has caused many Portuguese to cancel their holiday plans in their country of origin.
“Most changed their minds and stayed here [in the UK], especially those who were thinking of going by plane because they don't know if they have to be quarantined on their way back. Those who travel by car keep traveling because, as they are going to pass through Spain, they hope they won't have to be isolated,” he said.
However, this option is not guaranteed because the rules stipulate that even those who arrive from a country on the “travel runners” list, but have visited a non-exempt country such as Portugal, even in transit, are subject to quarantine.
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