BREAKING Government Adds Seven Greek Islands To Its Travel Quarantine List

The government has added seven Greek islands to its list of quarantine countries.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the news on Monday afternoon, confirming that travellers returning to the UK from the Greek islands of Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos must quarantine for 14 days.

The rules come into effect from 4am on Wednesday 9th September, he added.

Unsplash)

The new rules mean that anyone returning from the above mentioned islands after 4am on Wednesday morning will need to self isolate for a period of 14 days, meanwhile flights, accommodation bookings and package holidays could also be at risk of cancellation.

Mr Shapps explained that enhanced data has allowed them to pinpoint which islands were most at risk.

"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development office advise against all but essential travel to the islands of Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos. This is based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks," the FCDO advice now reads.

Unsplash)

"The rest of Greece remains exempt from the FCDO 's advice against all non-essential international travel. The FCDO is not advising those already travelling in Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos to leave at this time.

"You should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect yourself and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus."

The move comes as both Scotland and Wales added Greece to its list of quarantine countries earlier this month. In Wales, those returning from Crete, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Lesvos, Paros and Antiparos, must isolate for 14 days while travellers arriving in Scotland from any part of Greece must quarantine for a period of 14 days, also.

PA)

Last month, Gkikas Magiorkinis of Athens University said: "We can say that Greece has formally entered a second wave of the epidemic.

"This is the point that we could win or lose the battle."

Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has previously said quarantine measures will be taken against people arriving from nations with more than 20 infections per 100,000, over seven days.

More to follow...

Topics: News, Coronavirus, travel

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot. Get in touch at [email protected].

@lucedevine