Coronavirus in Wales: Portugal\, Greek islands put on quarantine list

Coronavirus in Wales: Portugal, Greek islands put on quarantine list

Algarve Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Portugal has been added to Wales' quarantine list but not England's

Travellers to Wales from mainland Portugal and six Greek islands must self-isolate for 14 days from 04:00 BST Friday.

It is the first time the Welsh Government has made its own quarantine changes.

People returning from Gibraltar and French Polynesia will also be required to self-isolate.

Crete, Zakynthos, Mykonos, Lesvos, Paros and Antiparos are among the Greek islands affected.

Advice for travellers in England from the UK government remains unchanged, despite a rise in cases in Portugal.

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 latest Welsh Government rules apply to travellers arriving home in Wales regardless of what part of the UK they return through - including English airports.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption There had been 20 cases connected to one flight from Zante to Cardiff Airport.

The Portuguese islands of the Azores and Madeira were not included in the announcement.

Travellers to Wales from Zakynthos were asked to self-isolate earlier in the week, but the changes mean those who do not self-isolate now face potential fines of £1,000.

Greece had not been on the quarantine list, except in Scotland where it was added on Tuesday.

Portugal, which was only removed from the quarantine rules less than two weeks ago, is expected to be added to Scotland's list from Saturday.

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 Zante to Cardiff.

The UK government's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ruled out any similar changes in England on Thursday.

Image copyright Damian Martin
Image caption Damian Martin arrived in Portugal on Wednesday

'I might as well try to enjoy it'

Damian Martin, from Swansea, arrived in Lagos, in Portugal, on Wednesday and said he would not be able to return early.

Mr Martin said he had "already switched my holiday from Spain," which was added to the quarantine rules in July.

The supermarket employee said he believed he would be able to self-isolate: "My work said they would deal with it if it came to it."

"I thought I'd be fine going to the Algarve, that most cases would be in the north," he said.

"Work had been full on and I really really needed a break, so I decided to go. I'm supposed to be here eight nights. I might as well try to enjoy it."

The health minister said he had hoped to discuss the situation with the UK government and counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but a meeting on Thursday was not possible.

"My responsibility is to make the right choices to keep Wales safe. My preference is to do that on a four-nation basis where possible. If it isn't possible, I still have to make the right choice for Wales."

Although he said that potentially people could be fined, "that is the very last step that I want us to take".

Because it is a public health measure, the quarantine system is set by the Welsh Government.

Up until now, Wales has followed the UK government in deciding which countries travellers could return from and not need to self-isolate.

It has also followed the changes made to that system, including the recent decision to order travellers from Switzerland to self-isolate.

Travellers abroad are expected to fill in a form online with their contact details 48 hours before they arrive back in the UK. Not providing accurate details could also result in fines of £1,920.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Crete is among the places included in the announcement

Analysis by Ione Wells, BBC Wales Westminster correspondent

Wales, for the first time, has now announced significantly different quarantine rules to those across the border.

The Welsh health minister says this action came after "clear advice" from the UK's Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) that travel from these countries poses a public health risk.

But the UK government's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also cited the JBC when announcing there was no need for additions or removals to the travel corridor list for England today.

These differences come with complications.

With only one major airport in Wales - Cardiff - many passengers flying into places like Bristol or Birmingham will land into one set of rules but face another when they get home.

Are you affected by the new quarantine rules? Tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.