Hauliers 'must expect Covid test to enter UK'

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A haulage industry source has said they have been told by the government to expect drivers to have to take a Covid test when coming into the UK from mainland Europe.

The tests are expected to take place on the UK side.

Lorry drivers had previously been exempt from testing coming into the UK.

The Department for Transport said it was "carefully monitoring" an increase in cases in Europe and would keep all measures under review.

Four days ago Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that a third wave of the pandemic in Europe could "wash up on the UK's shores."

This week Germany extended its lockdown over Easter due to a third wave of infections and France's president Emmanuel Macron said he wanted vaccinations "morning, noon and night" after an increase in intensive care cases and hospital admissions.

Now, some in the haulage industry say they've been told to expect that lorry drivers will be required to take a Covid test after travelling from mainland Europe to England.

France has stopped mandatory testing for hauliers travelling from the UK to France, a measure that had been in place from December due concerns about a UK variant of the disease.

Hauliers travelling from the UK to Denmark, Germany or the Netherlands still require a test.

The Department for Transport said: "We are carefully monitoring the increase in cases in Europe and will keep all measures under review as we cautiously remove restrictions throughout our roadmap."

The government has been encouraging international hauliers due to be in the UK for more than 48 hours to take a free coronavirus test.

Hauliers leaving the UK can also take a free test.

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March 26, 2021 at 12:28PM
By Caroline Davies
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56531330