Greece on quarantine list: What does it mean for holidaymakers?

Holidaymakers in Greece face a race against time to return to Scotland after the country was added to the quarantine list.

From Thursday, travellers returning from the country will have to self-isolate for 14 days, due to a rise in coronavirus cases in the popular destination.

Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said the situation in countries “can change suddenly” and urged people to “think very hard before committing to non-essential travel abroad.”

He added: “With Scotland’s relatively low infection rate, importation of new cases from Greece is a significant risk to public health.”

However, what exactly does the situation mean for holidaymakers?

When will you have to self-isolate?

The new measures for Scotland come into force from 4am on Thursday, September 3, meaning travellers who return from Greece after then will have to quarantine for 14 days.

Why is this happening?

The Scottish Government said there had been an increase in the number of coronavirus cases imported from the country, particularly from the Greek islands.

A number of cases of the virus in Scotland can be traced back to travel to Greece, the government said.

There were 14.0 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in Greece in the seven days to August 31, down from 14.9 a week earlier.

Are travel restrictions likely to change for any other countries?

It cannot be ruled out. Countries are continually monitored and decisions are made on available scientific data.

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.”

He added: “We continue to closely monitor the situation in all parts of the world and base the decisions we make on the scientific evidence available.”

What happens if you don’t quarantine when you are supposed to?

Failure to comply with the requirement to quarantine can result in a fine of £480.