PASSENGERS arriving in the UK will finally be screened for coronavirus weeks after other countries brought in the measure, it has emerged.

Joanna Cherry MP has repeatedly called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to adopt the preventative measure for all those landing from overseas.

READ MORE: Joanna Cherry urges Priti Patel to start testing at airports for THIRD time

Around 8000 people a week continue to come to Scotland by plane. For the UK as a whole, the figure is 260,000.

Temperature testing is to take off at Heathrow Airport as it trials new tech which could be rolled out across the sector.

Appearing before MPs today, John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow Airport, said the first trial will be launched within the next fortnight, with cameras used to monitor body temperatures.

Those with elevated levels may have contracted Covid-19.

The tech will be deployed in immigration halls but could also be used in departure areas and other parts of the London airport, which serves several Scottish travel hubs.

The strategy has already been in use in some countries for several weeks.

Appearing before a remote session of Westminster's Transport Committee, Holland-Kaye said: "Aviation is the cornerstone of the UK economy, and to restart the economy the government needs to help restart aviation.

"The UK has the world's third-largest aviation sector, offering the platform for the government to take a lead in agreeing a common international standard for aviation health with our main trading partners.

"This standard is key to minimising transmission of Covid-19 across borders, and the technology we are trialling at Heathrow could be part of the solution."

Heathrow is also considering the use of UV light to quickly sanitise security trays, and contact-free security screening equipment.

The airport has pledged to share data from its trials with the UK Government and the rest of the aviation industry to help develop the common standard it is seeking.