Greece goes back on 14-day quarantine list for passengers arriving in Scotland
Measure to also be implemented in Wales while England holds back on changing travel advice
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Travellers from Greece will be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days on arrival into Scotland as of Thursday morning, the nation's government has said after data showed a significant rise in coronvirus cases being imported from the Mediterranean nation.
While cases in Greece remain lower than 20 per 100,000 people - compared to the UK's 25 per 100,000 - a number of infections north of the border have been linked to the Greek islands in particular, officials said.
The measures, which will come into effect as of 4am on Thursday, are also being implemented by Welsh officials - with arrivals from Zante being asked to self isolate.
However England is yet to follow suit, with the Department for Transport saying it had made no changes in light of announcements from Cardiff and Holyrood.
Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "We are in the midst of a global pandemic and the situation in many countries can change suddenly. Therefore, people should think very hard before committing to non-essential travel abroad.
"With Scotland's relatively low infection rate, importation of new cases from Greece is a significant risk to public health.
"We continue to closely monitor the situation in all parts of the world and base the decisions we make on the scientific evidence available.
"Regular discussions continue with the other three governments in the UK.
"Requiring travellers arriving from a non-exempt country to quarantine for 14 days on arrival is vital to helping prevent transmission of the virus and to suppress it."
The majority of international travellers arriving in Scotland are required to complete a passenger locator form - with those who do not facing a potential £60 fine.
And a failure to comply with quarantine rules can be met with a £480 punishment under Scottish law.
The nation's chief medical officer Gregor Smith said: "There is a compelling public health risk around importation of the virus, especially given the number of imported cases linked to the Greek islands.
"The flow of travel between Scotland and Greece, and the behaviour we have seen from some of those travellers, means that on public health grounds there is a strong case - supported by public health directors - to remove Greece from the exemption list."
All international travellers coming into Scotland, apart from a very limited number of individual exemptions, must complete a passenger locator form.
Additional reporting by agencies
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