Quarantine. What Are The Government Playing At ?

[Gromit]

Yesterday the Government introduced strict new travel rules:
A quarantine law was introduced by the Government. Almost all arrivals at UK airports, ferry ports and international rail terminals are obliged to self-isolate at home for two weeks. The measures have initially been imposed for a year.

Today we learn that the Government will shortly introduce a loophole:
A group of more than 500 travel businesses has received “private assurances from senior government sources” that the quarantine law, imposed on Monday, will be relaxed by the end of June.

Not sure if this is a U-Turn, a mixed message, or just sheer incompetence. It isn’t often you see a Government undermine its own policy before the ink is dry.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/coronavirus-quarantine-travel-self-isolation-june-holidays-uk-a9555681.html

[dannyk13]

Last night the PM said it would only apply to anyone returning to the Uk who felt unwell.

[dannyk13]

It is in support of the economy.

[Gromit]

So why was quarantine announced yesterday, when the Government never intended to do it ?

[dannyk13]

They do intend to do it but in a modified way.

[dannyk13]

Gromit, do you trawl all the papers in order to find something to gripe about?

[jim360]

This isn't an unreasonable criticism, though. The purpose of quarantine is, by definition, to stop diseases entering the country. It entirely defeats the object if you rely on self-enforcement, make dozens of exceptions, and then plan to end it within a couple of weeks anyway. If damage to the economy from quarantine is reckoned to be too high then they shouldn't introduce the measures at all; if the threat of the disease being reintroduced is too great then the measures should be enforced and universal. A policy like this is trying to be all things to all sides and will end up achieving exactly nothing.

[Gromit]

Bit early for BA Jim, but you have nailed it.

[198kHz]

The government is using the Eric Morecambe method - all the right policies, but not necessarily in the right order.

[gulliver1]

Well this Dick and Dom government are certainly living up to their name.