Advertisement

Coronavirus: Greece added to Scotland's quarantine list as cases rise

<p>The change will come into force at 4am on Thursday due to apparent new evidence that <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/covid-19-8518" target="_blank">COVID-19</a></strong> is being imported.</p><p>In Wales, people coming back from Zante are being asked to self-isolate for two weeks, after <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-entire-flight-to-cardiff-told-to-self-isolate-after-seven-confirmed-covid-19-cases-12059838" target="_blank">seven infections were discovered on a flight</a></strong> from the popular Greek island that landed in Cardiff on 25 August.</p><p>The request is not mandatory, but the Welsh health minister wants a meeting with political leaders in the other UK nations to agree to add Greece to all their separate quarantine lists.</p><p>Meanwhile <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-putting-portugal-back-on-uk-quarantine-list-would-spark-chaos-british-airways-boss-says-12060898" target="_blank">prices of flights from Portugal to the UK have soared</a></strong> as the country is expected be next on the quarantine list.</p><p>Holidaymakers are already scrambling to get home, with British Airways charging up to £554 for a seat on Thursday compared to just £139 the same day the following week.</p><p>Decisions about adding countries to or removing them from the so-called list of "travel corridors" are usually taken every Thursday, with those where cases are higher than 20 per 100,000 people at particular risk.</p><p>In Greece, the figure is 13.7 per 100,000, according to the latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.</p><p>But Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, said there had been a notable number of "imported cases linked to the Greek islands".</p> <p>He added that "the flow of travel" and "behaviour we have seen from some of those travellers" meant Greece needed to be added to the quarantine list "on public health grounds".</p><p>Anyone who flouts the requirement to fill out a "passenger locator form" so authorities can check they are isolating faces an initial £60 fine that can be raised to £480 for further offences.</p><p>A series of European destinations have already been impacted by sudden quarantine announcements this summer, such as Spain, France and Croatia.</p><p>Ministers say they need to act quickly so the measures are effective.</p><p>But sun-seekers complain that with little notice, they struggle to get home in time if they cannot self-isolate for two weeks due to being unable to afford to take time off work or fears their children will miss out on more school.</p><p>It comes as some <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/coronavirus-8483" target="_blank">coronavirus</a></strong> lockdown restrictions were <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-lockdown-rules-to-be-tightened-around-glasgow-as-cases-rise-12061228" target="_blank">tightened in and around Glasgow</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>Are you affected by the quarantine change? Get in touch with Sky News<br />:: WhatsApp - <a href="https://wa.me/447583000853" target="_blank">07583 000853</a><br />:: Email - <a href="mailto:news@sky.com">news@sky.com</a></strong><br /><strong>:: 'Your Report' on Sky News apps</strong></p>