Grant Shapps adds most of Greece to the quarantine ‘red list’ and extends Denmark travel ban amid fears over mutated Covid virus from mink – but lifts restrictions on Chile, Iceland and UAE
- International travel is restricted during the England-wide coronavirus lockdown
- But Government is sticking with travel corridors policy to stop importing cases
- Grant Shapps today announced most of Greece is being added to the ‘red list’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today announced most of Greece is being added to the Government’s travel quarantine ‘red list’.
Only the islands of Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos and Kos are being allowed to maintain their exemption from self-isolation requirements.
That means anyone who travels back to England from anywhere else in Greece from 4am on Saturday will have to quarantine for 14 days.
Meanwhile, self-isolation requirements will be lifted on travel from a number of countries including Cambodia, Chile, Iceland, Laos and the United Arab Emirates as of this weekend.
Mr Shapps also announced that a travel ban which applies to Denmark is going to be extended for a further 14 days as the Government tries to protect against importing Covid-19 cases during the England-wide lockdown.
Grant Shapps, pictured in Downing Street on November 10, today announced most of Greece is being added to the Government’s travel quarantine ‘red list’ from this weekend
International travel is restricted during the current four-week national shutdown as the Government urges the nation to stay at home as much as possible.
But Mr Shapps is sticking with the Government’s so-called ‘travel corridors’ policy.
He tweeted this evening: ‘Travel Corridor Update: BAHRAIN, CHILE, ICELAND, CAMBODIA, LAOS, UAE, QATAR and TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS have been ADDED to the #TravelCorridor list.
‘If you arrive from these countries after 4am on Saturday 14th November you will NOT need to self-isolate.
‘The travel ban on DENMARK will also be EXTENDED for a further 14 days.
‘A reminder that under the current restrictions, travel outside of the home, with the exception of a limited number of reasons including work or education, is not permitted.
‘Latest data also means we have to REMOVE all of GREECE apart from Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos and Kos from the #TravelCorridor list.
‘From 4am Saturday 14th November, if you arrive into the UK from this destination you will need to self-isolate.’
The decision to extend the travel ban on Denmark comes amid continuing fears about an outbreak of a mutated strain of coronavirus linked to Danish mink farms.
The Danish Government has ordered a cull of 17 million mink after a warning that a mutation of the virus – which is less sensitive to an attack from Covid-19 antibodies – had jumped from minks to humans and infected 12 people.
Restrictions were imposed last weekend which mean all non-British national or resident travellers who have been in or through Denmark in the last 14 days will be denied entry upon arrival at the British border.
Non-UK resident HGV drivers have also been added to the restrictions, while all passenger vessels and accompanied freight from Denmark has been halted.
Anyone from the UK who arrives in England after travelling from or through Denmark in the last 14 days must self-isolate along with their household.