Britain is working with London's Heathrow Airport on a plan to use Covid-19 testing to help shorten quarantine times, in an effort to help airlines and airports kickstart travel and the wider economy, Reuters reported.

Heathrow said that a testing area was ready to open should Britain approve a rule change and allow two tests, one on arrival and one some days later, to cut the quarantine time from the current two weeks.

Britain's health minister Matt Hancock said the government was still working with Heathrow on the plan but there were challenges in ensuring all of those infected by Covid-19 were detected.

“I'm very glad that they're making progress, but we've got to make sure that this is safe and secure because obviously that is absolutely top priority,” Hancock told LBC radio.