There are good reasons why other countries have Covid tests for arrivals from China, where the virus is still rife.
China has been slow to introduce a vaccination programme and while Beijing is officially reporting 5,000 new cases a day, analysts believe the true figure is closer to one million.
Testing at borders prevents the spread of infections and allows the authorities to monitor for new variants of coronavirus.
That is why the US, Italy, Japan and other countries have introduced the travel conditions on China.
The British government initially ruled out such a move, but is now saying the situation is under review.
Ministers have failed to learn from their mistakes.
The UK had one of the highest Covid death tolls because Boris Johnson was slow to lock down and to bring in checks at borders.
Yet again, it appears the government has been slow to react and, as a result, could be putting the public’s health at risk.
Poverty trap
Thanks to the Conservatives’ mismanagement of the economy, Britain this year suffered the biggest fall in living standards since the 1950s.
The squeeze is forecast to continue in 2023, with experts warning average energy bills could rise by £900 this coming year.
The war in Ukraine is partly to blame, but it is primarily the result of the government’s failure to invest in renewables, the winding down of gas storage facilities and the decision to scrap funding for home insulation projects.
Families are already struggling to pay their bills. A further increase will mean more people choosing between heating and eating and more dying unnecessarily from the cold.
They should not be paying the price for this government’s incompetence.
Th-ink twice
The over-50s are ditching traditional New Year resolutions for more adventurous ambitions such as getting a tattoo.
Best to think before you ink, guys.
