German airline Lufthansa today flew in 80 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op and Aldi as thousands of lorries remained stranded at the Kent border. The airlift, which included lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, citrus fruits, and strawberries, came as Tesco began rationing several items and experts warned today’s border reopening did not come soon enough to prevent shortages.
Major delays for trucks have followed France’s travel ban earlier this week in an attempt to prevent the spread of a new, fast-spreading strain of COVID-19. Lorry drivers can now cross the Channel if they have been certified as COVID-19 negative. “We are also checking if a regular flight might be possible, she added. “This could be with a freighter, but we are also examining if we could use passenger aircraft for freight flights only.”
Several countries closed their borders to the United Kingdom after officials said a new strain of coronavirus was spreading rapidly. UK scientists said they believe with “high confidence” that the new strain is more transmissible.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, tweeted earlier on Wednesday that testing had begun but told people to avoid Kent because “severe delays” continue. He later urged lorry drivers stuck in Kent by the French travel ban to show “patience” while the backlog of vehicles was being cleared. The transport secretary told the BBC: “It will take a matter of days rather than weeks or anything else but there will be, I’m afraid, some patience required.”
He added the government would continue to provide “welfare” to those hauliers who are stuck at the border. Manston Airfield has become the main testing centre for hauliers, with drivers required to self-administer the tests in their cabs under supervision. Results come back in around 30 minutes and drivers who test positive must self-isolate. The French government will also carry out sample testing on incoming freight to the UK, the Road Haulage Association said.
