People arriving from six Greek islands to Wales must self-isolate for 14 days, the Welsh government decided late on Thursday. The measures goes into effect from 04:00 on Friday, September 4, 2020. It is reportedly the first time the Welsh Government has set different quarantine rules from the UK government.
The island affected are: Crete, Zakynthos, Mykonos, Lesvos, Paros and Antiparos, practically the islands and two regional units in Crete for which the Greek Civil Protection has imposed extraordinary restrictive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
According to BBC, Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething said he was acting on public health advice, and had sought a meeting with the UK government but was not able to get one.
The decision follows a number of coronavirus cases in Wales linked to flights from Zakynthos.
Travellers to Wales from the Greek island were asked to self-isolate earlier in the week, but Thursday’s changes mean those who do not self-isolate now face potential fines of £1,000.
The quarantine rules apply to travellers arriving home in Wales regardless of what part of the UK they return through – including English airports.
Mr Gething said he took the decision because of a large number of coronavirus cases “imported into Wales from tourists returning from the Greek islands”.
He said there were more than 20 cases confirmed in passengers on one flight from Zakynthos to Cardiff.
But UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Thursday there were no changes in England.
According to WalesOnline, Mr Gething said there was “clear advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) report that travel from the following countries and territories constitutes a public health risk.”
Wales imposed also quarantine for arrivals from Portugal, Gibraltar and French Polynesia.
