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Travellers at Heathrow Airport have been alarmed by the lack of health checks for coronavirus when landing in London.

London’s international travel hub is allowing health officials access to the site to monitor the global outbreak of Covid-19, but passengers have noticed no temperature tests or screening as they passed through the airport.

According to the World Health Organisation, 75 countries have confirmed cases of the deadly disease.

The borough of Hillingdon, where Heathrow Airport is based, has so far avoided any positive coronavirus diagnoses or school closures due to the virus.

But jet-setters took to Twitter to share their concerns over relaxed measures at the major travel terminal.

Sofia Zab, travelling last week, tweeted: “Flew back to Lagos from London yesterday. I have to say so far I'm more impressed by Nigeria's response to the #coronavirus. Health forms, health screening, workers in masks. Nobody in Heathrow being tested or wearing a mask. I really hope the government wakes up and starts acting.”

Kola Karim added: “I arrived London this morning from Singapore and shocked at the level of coronavirus screening on arrival at Heathrow (ABSOLUTELY NONE ).”

And even ITV’s Good Morning Britain correspondent Nick Dixon shared his experience: “Just arrived at Heathrow T5 after four days in Milan - was fully expecting a thermal temperature check. Nothing. Straight through."



A Heathrow spokesperson said: “The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is always our main priority. We are working closely with Public Health England officials to facilitate their access to the airport so that they can implement their enhanced monitoring measures as a precaution.

“In line with the latest Public Health England advice, we are encouraging passengers and colleagues to maintain good hand hygiene and report any suspected symptoms to NHS 111.

We are also encourage passengers with individual questions or concerns about coronavirus or travel to affected countries, to refer to guidance from Public Health England and the Foreign Office.”

It is understood Public Health England is handing out posters and leaflets to airlines and aiports with the latest advice, details of symptoms and pointers on how to handle unwell passengers.

And the body is said to be ramping up efforts to monitor direct flights to the UK from non-European countries such as China - where the outbreak began - Singapore, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

Any passengers found to be unwell are expected to be met by a medical team for assessment.

Screening of travellers in the airport such as through temperature checks is believed to have limited effectiveness due to symptoms for the virus likely to appear between five-14 days.

If you have a story for us, please email our reporter anahita.hosseinpour@reachplc.com