Seven Greek islands added to quarantine list as rule change revealed

© Getty
Zakynthos is one of the islands added to England’s quarantine list

Seven Greek islands have been added to England’s quarantine list – affecting travellers returning from Lesvos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and Zakynthos.

It comes as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the rules are changing on which areas anyone coming back from must isolate for two weeks.

Instead of a whole-country approach to the coronavirus quarantine, individual islands will be able to be treated differently.

Mr Shapps said the new quarantine policy for seven Greek islands will come into effect from 4am on Wednesday as there was a “significant risk to UK public health from those islands”.

Travel operator TUI UK said it currently had 7,500 customers on four of the affected islands and that 14 flights scheduled to take holidaymakers there on Tuesday had been cancelled.

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It has now scrapped all trips to Crete, Santorini, Zakynthos and Mykonos until 22 September – with customers able to claim a refund or switch to an alternative destination.

In contrast to the islands added to the quarantine list, mainland Greece will remain on England’s exemption list of COVID-19 “travel corridors”.

Mr Shapps explained the move to treat islands differently was not yet able to happen for regions within a country’s mainland territory.

© ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tourists wearing face masks inspect timetable at the international airport in Split, Croatia, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. Due to latest Covid-19 situation, tourists returning to the UK from Croatia will have to self isolate for 14 days under changes revealed on Thursday. (AP Photo/Miroslav Lelas)

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the new rules will only apply to land that has a “clear boundary” – such as an island – and “internationally comparable data” on COVID-19 cases.

“Our top priority has always been to keep domestic infection rates down, and today we’re taking the next step in our approach,” Mr Shapps told MPs.

“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.

“This development will help boost the UK’s travel industry while continuing to maintain maximum protection to public health, keeping the travelling public safe.”

It follows anger and confusion from some holidaymakers hit by last-minute changes.

Several have complained that countries added to the quarantine list have seen coronavirus cases growing in a particular region on the mainland – but the islands are still largely safe.

That was the case when Spain was added to the list in July due to a spike of infections in three northeastern regions.

The move also hit sun-seekers on the Balearic and Canary Islands – leaving some questioning why, given the popular destinations had much lower rates of COVID-19.

Mr Shapps told the Commons that no islands will be added to the “safe list” for now.

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Passengers from international flights arrive at Heathrow Airport, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), London, Britain, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

“When we removed Spain from the travel corridor list there were 24 cases per 100,000. Today there are 127 cases and it remains too high in the Balearic and Canary Islands as well,” he said.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said there remained “unanswered questions”.

“Passengers and the aviation industry need confidence that ministers aren’t simply making it up as they go along,” he said.

Mr McMahon added: “We are still yet to see the scientific evidence for the government’s decision making and why, unlike in Scotland and Wales, those returning from Portugal don’t need to self-isolate.

“After the mess we’ve seen, it is vital that the government undertakes a review into quarantine policy, to report as soon as possible.”

England’s new approach follows that of Wales – which last week added some Greek islands to its quarantine list and exempted several Portuguese islands.

Meanwhile Scotland has added the whole of Greece to its quarantine list.

© Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto
Aerial view from a drone of the famous exotic Kavourotrypes sandy beaches with turquoise crystal clear transparent water, between the rocks and pine tree forest. People have fun at the beach in Greece as they are relaxing under the shadow of the umbrellas or pine trees, swimming in the tropical waters, sunbathing on the rocks and enjoying beach life under the sunny blue sky. Kavourotrypes, known also as Portokali or Orange beach, is located between Armenistis and Platanitsi beaches in Sithonia Chalkidiki near Sarti. It is called the real paradise on earth, it is a golden sandy beach with crystal-clear, emerald turquoise and shallow waters with great view to Mt. Athos surrounded by pine trees and white rocks. It is partly organized and not easily accessible, though it always gets overcrowded.
Kavourotripes forms a lace-like coastline of small secluded beaches with crystal clear waters, white coves and dense pine trees that spread all the way down to the shore. It used to be a nudist friendly – naturist beach but became popular to tourists the past few years. The local government is adding new safety measures such as social distaning, changing the working hours, obligatory facemask usage etc against the spread of the Coronavirus Covid-19 Pandemic outbreak after relaxing the lockdown, travel and traffic ban, quarantine a few weeks ago, trying to relaunch the tourism season, but recently the number of cases began increasing in Greece, especially to locations near summer holiday destinations, resorts, beach bars, travel locations, night club party etc involving mostly tourists and younger people. On August 23, 2020 in Halkidiki, Greece. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

IAG, the owner of British Airways, said it was “evident back in July” that islands should be treated separately.

“The government is being too slow in making obvious decisions,” a spokesman said.

Mr Shapps also told MPs that the DfT is “working actively” on reducing the 14-day quarantine requirement – but he said that only testing people for COVID-19 on arrival “would not work”.

Cabinet colleague Matt Hancock said earlier that he is trying to reduce the isolation period down to eight days.

The health secretary explained that one test at the border “doesn’t work” as the virus can incubate – meaning it is not able to be picked up in the early stages.

Asked if travellers could then get a second test after eight days’ quarantine which if returned a negative result could release them, he said “I’m not just made aware of it, I’m working with Grant Shapps” on the plan.

Mr Shapps said during his appearance in front of MPs that the government will be “stepping up” its quarantine enforcement measures.

Stay alert to stop coronavirus spreading – here is the latest government guidance. If you think you have the virus, don’t go to the GP or hospital, stay indoors and get advice online. Only call NHS 111 if you cannot cope with your symptoms at home; your condition gets worse; or your symptoms do not get better after seven days. In parts of Wales where 111 isn’t available, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. In Scotland anyone with symptoms is advised to self-isolate for seven days. In Northern Ireland, call your GP.