England Removes 5 Greek Islands from Quarantine List

Photo source: Gatwick Airport

England on Thursday added five Greek islands to its “travel corridor” exemptions list for quarantine, meaning that travelers from those destinations will not have to self-isolate upon arrival.

According to the updated travel advice for Greece by the Foreign Office (FCDO), the islands of Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos will be added to the exempt list on Saturday, October 10, at 4am.

The Greek islands of Mykonos and Crete, however, still remain on the quarantine list which obliges travelers arriving from those destination to self-isolate for 14 days.

“If you are returning to England, Northern Ireland or Wales from Mykonos or Crete, or returning to Scotland from any part of Greece, you will need to self-isolate on your return,” the FCDO’s travel advice says. Moreover, the FCDO informs that the Welsh Government has also lifted the requirement to self-isolate for those returning to Wales from Paros and Antiparos arriving after 4am on October 10.

It is reminded that the England had placed the seven Greek islands on its quarantine list in September as part of preventive measures to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

UK creates Global Travel Taskforce to reduce quarantine period

Photo source: Heathrow Airport

The update to the travel advice for Greece follows the announcement of the creation of a Global Travel Taskforce by UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

According to Shapps, the aim of the taskforce will be to open up international travel once again to support businesses in the industry.

“Following agreement from medical experts, we are moving ahead with the next step to reduce the travel quarantine period by launching the Global Travel Taskforce to open up international travel & boost our businesses,” he said on his twitter account on Thursday.

The UK traditionally ranks second in terms of tourists arrivals and receipts in Greece. Even this year, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the UK came second, after Germany, among the top five countries that visited Greece this summer. According to recent data, over 600 thousand UK travelers came to Greece since the country opened to tourism after the Covid-19 lockdown.