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He made “critical mistakes” in his decisions on border measures in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by MPs.
It has been criticized for an apparent lack of transparency and considerations have been raised about the border policy branch.
The three-month era in which there were no border measures to counter the spread of Covid-19 was described as “inexplicable.”
The House of Commons Internal Affairs Committee indexed a series and made a number of recommendations:
The government has been slow to acknowledge the greatest threat of the disease spreading from other European countries, and it is a specific mistake not to include Spain on the list of early self-isolation measures.
“With more powerful early measurements, the spread of the infection would most likely have slowed down,” the committee said.
The resolution to lift the rules of self-isolation for the express countries on the thirteenth of March and to begin a three-month era in which there were no border measures to counter the spread of the “unexplained” Covid-19, according to the report.
Other countries were “massively introducing stricter border measures at the time,” quarantine, testing, detection and border closure.
Instead, the UK has been “very unusual” in cutting off border measures and this has raised “serious questions” for ministers.
The impossibility of implementing special border measures for the arrivals of Spain and France in February and March, and of having only voluntary self-isolation measures for travellers from Italy until the thirteenth of March, a “serious mistake”.
“Many other people in the UK have blocked Covid-19 as a result,” the MPs said.
The committee “very critical” with the lack of transparency in government decisions at the border.
He also raised considerations on the clinical recommendation provided and said ministers gave the impression that they were making decisions without having “critical information” available.
It is unclear who was to blame for some of the decisions and on what basis they were made.
The committee said it had “been unable to locate a clinical basis or investigate the resolution to lift border controls on March 13,” which he described as “unacceptable” after making nine more official data requests and despite government promises to make them available.
There is still a lack of clarity about the branch of government that is ultimately guilty of border policy and this is the duty of the Cabinet or the Ministry of the Interior, the report adds.
The committee suggested that the government publish the data on which it bases its decisions.
He welcomed the restrictions imposed on those travelling in Spain, but added: “Without a doubt, this has been incredibly complicated for many travelers who have paid for a holiday in Spain in the hope of returning to work, taking responsibility, arranging medical appointments.” or circle of family occasions on his return.
“There will be significant adjustments to the way these decisions are treated and communicated in the future.”
The committee said it is “uninfidant” through the Home Office’s estimates that the quarantine compliance rate is 99.9%.
The report said the effects should be “better highlighted” with normal figures on the number of other quarantined persons and the number of random checks carried out.
The feasibility of widespread or specific border tests in countries such as Iceland, Hong Kong and South Korea should be considered, the committee recommended.