Greece’s tourism minister has urged the UK not to close down visits to the country, after Scotland and Wales introduced new measures over concerns about rising coronavirus cases.
The Westminster government is coming under pressure to impose quarantines for travellers for England too, with officials expected to discuss the situation with devolved administrations shortly.
The Scottish Government announced on Tuesday evening that travellers from Greece would have to self-isolate for 14 days from Thursday, while Wales also began asking arrivals from the island of Zante to quarantine.
The Department for Transport said no change to its rules for England had been made, but Wales’ health minister Vaughan Gething said he would be pressing the UK Government for an urgent meeting to consider the potential risk from Greece. The DfT was unable to say immediately whether discussions would be brought forward from their usual slot on Thursday to take place today.
Cabinet minister Therese Coffey rebuked Edinburgh and Cardiff for rushing out announcements ahead of the regular Thursday discussion which has so far determined weekly changes to the government’s quarantine exemption list.
“It’s important that we keep to that systematic rhythm, based on evidence, based on data and the judgement that’s made by other ministers in government,” said the work and pensions secretary. “It’s a timely process. It has worked well. This is a sensible approach.”
Ms Coffey added: “We know that airlines are very keen, and holiday firms, to reopen different countries, as indeed are different countries.
“But we’ve got to do what’s right for public health in this country. People are aware that there is this threshold the government has, it carefully considers it, and makes its announcements on the Thursday. So I’m conscious that some people may have gone briefly abroad, but they will have done that knowing the risks that things might change.”