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Travelers returning to the UK from mainland Greece will have to isolate themselves for two weeks starting at 4am this Saturday.
Only the islands of Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos, and Kos maintain their exemption from quarantine requirements.
Several countries have been removed from the UK’s quarantine list, so travelers will not have to self-isolate for two weeks upon arriving in the UK from 4am on Saturday.
COVID-19 updates live from the UK and around the world
Iceland is one of the countries removed from the quarantine list
They are: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turks and Caicos, Iceland, Laos, Cambodia, Chile and Bahrain.
These nations have also been added to the list of exempt countries for travelers returning to Wales.
Meanwhile, the ban on travel to Denmark will be extended for a further 14 days. Follow the discovery of a mutated strain of COVID-19 in mink farms, raising concerns about future vaccine development.
International travel from England has been banned since November 5, when the country was subjected to a national blockade, although business travel is allowed.
Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps gave a further update, tweeting: “The travel ban to DENMARK will also be extended for a further 14 days.
“A reminder that under current restrictions, travel outside the home is not allowed, with the exception of a limited number of reasons, including work or education.
“The most recent data also means that we have to REMOVE all GREECE except Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos and Kos from the #TravelCorridor list.
“Starting at 4am on Saturday 14 November, if you arrive in the UK from this destination, you will have to isolate yourself.”
Greece has seen a sharp increase coronavirus cases over the past fortnight and was placed under a national lockdown on November 7, with measures including a ban on travel between different parts of the country and only one driver and one passenger allowed in all cars and taxis.
Mink are seen in their cages at a mink farm in Jyllinge, near Copenhagen.
According to government data, there has been a steady increase in recently reported cases in Greece over the last 2 weeks with a 136% increase in recently reported cases to 16,429 between November 5 and 12 from 6,965 between November 22 and 29 October.
The government said the Greek islands of Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos and Kos had not seen “significant growth” in cases in recent weeks.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said the additions to the travel broker list were “a very important decision and a huge push to reopen long-distance travel from the UK.”
He continued: “Unlocking Gulf hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar enables UK travelers to reach most corners of the world to the east and south. Chile also opens up South America.
“These movements show that the Government is serious about the UK’s connection to the world despite the pandemic.”
Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said they would ban planes and ships coming directly from Denmark from landing or docking in Wales.
