RYANAIR boss Michael O'Leary has slammed "idiotic" plans to impose a 14-day quarantine on international travellers arriving in the UK.
The airline chief executive claimed the proposals have "no medical or scientific basis", and instead claimed face masks would "eliminate" the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Ryanair announced last week that it will operate nearly 1000 flights per day from July 1 subject to European countries lifting flight restrictions and "effective public health measures" being put in place at airports.
Ministers have said international travellers will be asked to quarantine for 14 days when they enter the UK, either in accommodation of their choice or provided by the Government if there are no other options. An implementation date has not yet been announced.
Mr O'Leary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's laughable that this Government can come up with any plans for a quarantine that will be strict and fully enforced when already they are exempting the Irish, the French...
"It is idiotic and it's unimplementable. You don't have enough police in the UK to implement a two-week lockdown.
"And what's really worrying is that a two-week lockdown has no medical or scientific basis to it in any event. If you really want to do something that's effective – wear masks."
READ MORE: Ryanair's new passenger rules: Airline plans to restart 'some' flights from July
The World Health Organisation says only people that are sick and showing symptoms should wear protective masks, as well as those that are caring for people suspected to have coronavirus.
The masks are not generally recommended to the public because they can be contaminated by other people's coughs and sneezes, or when putting them on or removing them; frequent hand-washing and social distancing are more effective; and they might offer a false sense of security.
Last week Downing Street denied that travellers from France would be exempt from the quarantine.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden suggested the Government would legally enforce the quarantine rules, and said exemptions would be "very limited".
He told Today: "We would look at the relevant enforcement mechanisms just as we have done with other measures.
"So for example, the measures that we took when we introduced the so-called lockdown - those were underpinned by regulations which had consequences in law, and I'm sure we'll do the same thing."
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