Travellers arriving in England from seven Greek islands will have to self-isolate for 14 days from 04:00 on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Monday afternoon.
The 7 Greek islands are removed from England’s travel corridor list and quarantine exemption.
Schapps added that the government can now adopt different regional quarantine rules for some countries that have islands with direct flights to UK.
According to BBC, the 7 Greek island affected are Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and Zakynthos.
On difficulties for travellers when UK quarantine rules change with short notice, Shapps said “in these times when we travel, we must accept that we have to go with our eyes open.”
Speaking to MPs in the Commons, Shapps said: “Through the use of enhanced data we will now be able to pinpoint risk in some of the most popular islands, providing increased flexibility to add or remove them – distinct from the mainland – as infection rates change.”
England ‘s Transport Secretary added that officials are working on a testing programme with the “aim of cutting the quarantine period” for international arrivals, but testing on arrival alone will not be workable.”
Heathrow statement in response to Grant Shapps statement: pic.twitter.com/Xz2kia6EO0
— Olly Barratt (@ollybarratt) September 7, 2020
Last week Wales and Scotland imposed also 14-day quarantine on arrivals from certain Greek ilsnads (Wales) or the whole country (Scotland.)
Mr Shapps needs to show the figures gained by ‘enhanced data’ that drove this decision. He cannot hide behind the ‘science’ and needs to put his valuable data in the public domain.
The government can now adopt regional quarantine rules for islands that have direct flights to the UK. Please tell me where the international airports are on Tinos and Serifos.
Absolutely, I’ve written to my MP on the need for justification.
Here we go again. Loads of misinformation in the British media regarding CV19 and Greece.
Last week we had our island (Zakynthos) labelled ‘the party island’ and a ‘Coronavirus hot-spot’.
Both wildly inaccurate but, hey-ho, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
The damage to the Greek economy is immense, the damage to its reputation unjustified.
It’s time that the media carried out some deeper investigations into their news items, not just superficial
and sensationalised wallpapering.
Prior to the start of the season, we had had no cases on the island for three months. Suddenly, thanks to irresponsible young tourists having large beach parties, we do have cases and we are, somehow, to blame.
Well, Britain, you can have your CV19 people back, along with the virus they brought with them.
Thanks.