Travellers coming to UK without negative Covid tests waved through border controls

Travellers without negative Covid-19 tests are being fined and waved through border controls into the UK despite Britons in a similar situation abroad being turned away. Some 30 air passengers have so far been fined £500 each after arriving in the UK without the correct certificate showing a negative PCR, lateral flow or LAMP test result from within 72 hours of departure. The Home Office confirmed that they had been allowed on their way – meaning dozens of people who possibly have Covid have been let into the UK since rules requiring pre-departure tests were introduced at 4am on Monday. By contrast, Britons who arrived in Spain and Italy without the proper documentation or PCR tests were sent back on their planes in a series of incidents over the festive period. It emerged that airlines which allowed passengers to fly without appropriate negative test results face fines of up to £2,000 per traveller. Under the Government's new regulations, they are required to refuse boarding to anyone who does not have the correct documentation.