FLIGHTS from destinations hit hard by coronavirus continue to arrive daily while their passengers face no checks or quarantine, it has been reported.
While other countries close their borders to nations particularly badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic - like Italy, Iran and Spain - the UK continues to allow flights from the areas to land at Gatwick and Heathrow.
Last week planes from Rome, Beijing and Shanghai arrived every day, while direct flights from Rome will arrive this week.
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Italy's number of confirmed coronavirus cases has now passed China's, while Spain has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in Europe. Despite this, British Airways and Iberia flights arrived from Madrid and Barcelona yesterday. Meanwhile, a flight from Tehran also arrived at Heathrow yesterday.
SNP MP Carol Monaghan was unhappy with the news and called on the UK Government to start taking the pandemic "seriously".
She tweeted: "Flights are still arriving from Covid-19 hotspots: Spain, Italy, Iran and China, but no checks or quarantine given for the passengers. How long will before the UK Government actually takes this seriously?"
The Scottish Government does not have the power to close the borders as immigration matters are reserved to Westminster.
The UK public has been urged not to travel anywhere abroad unless it is essential.
A spokesperson for the UK Government said: “There is no evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans would have any effect on the spread of infection. Those who return to the UK would be advised to reduce their social contact by following the same social distancing measures as the rest of the country.”
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