The Border Force chief who was last night accused of causing huge delays at Heathrow Airport by splitting the workforce into rigid and inflexible bubbles has landed a senior role with NHS Test and Trace.
It is understood that Chief Operating Officer Emma Moore instructed Border Force agents to work in 12-person bubbles at the West London airport, in an apparent bid to prevent the spread of mutant Covid variants.
But the bubble policy, which first came into force on December 31, has been blamed for much of the mayhem experienced by thousands of passengers trying to clear passport checks at Heathrow Airport last week.
Heathrow mutiny as staff tackle angry arrivals jumping over passport barriers
A witness described how chaos erupted at the London airport with angry travellers being tackled to the ground after trying to leap over malfunctioning barriers
The video will auto-play soon8Cancel
Play now
The Daily Star s FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign up today!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Hairdresser shows us how to cut hair properly in lockdown
Whether it s a fringe trim or a head shave, here s what you need to know
Updated
The video will auto-play soon8Cancel
Play now
Never miss another story from Coventry and Warwickshire by subscribing to our free email updatesInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Subscribe
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Figures from Newham Council show take-up has varied across the borough s over 80s.
In total, 78 per cent of white over-80s were inoculated up to January 26. But this falls to 69pc of Asians, 63pc of a mixed background and just 44pc of black over-80s.
Seventy-three per cent of Newham s population of 350,000 are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
During the start of the pandemic, the borough had the highest coronavirus death rate. Covid-19 has also been shown to have a disproportionate impact on minorities.
Worries about possible side effects, the speed of vaccine development as well as lack of trust in government, trials and health systems are among the reasons why people are hesitant, according to Newham s public health team.
People seen queuing at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on Friday. Images showed little sign of social distancing. Photograph: Pia Josephson/Reuters
Scenes of big crowds at Heathrow airport are “incredibly worrying”, the shadow home secretary has said, as travellers complained of long queues at passport control for a second consecutive day.
Photographs posted online by travellers, including the former British ambassador Peter Westmacott, appeared to show queues of people at border control with no obvious social distancing.
Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds expressed serious concern over the scenes and said the government was lurching from one crisis to another.
“The Conservatives’ indecision and incompetence has left holes in our country’s defences,” he said. “They are incredibly worrying, with no social distancing and clearly risking transmission of yet more strains of this awful virus. Ministers need to get a grip to prote