Coronavirus in Wales: Portugal and six Greek islands on quarantine list

Travelers to Wales from mainland Portugal and six Greek islands must isolate themselves for 14 days starting at 04:00 BST on Friday.

It is the first time that Wales has applied its own quarantine rules.

Gibraltar and French Polynesia will also be removed from the list of countries exempt from quarantine restrictions.

Crete, Zakynthos, Mykonos, Lesbos, Paros and Antiparos are among the affected islands.

The announcement comes on the same day the UK government decided not to add Portugal to the list, despite an increase in cases.

Until now, Wales has used the list of exemptions established by the UK government in England.

The latest Welsh Government rules apply to travelers arriving home in Wales, regardless of which part of the UK they have returned from, including English airports.

• Greece? Portugal? Spain? What are the quarantine rules?
• Can I still go on vacation to Portugal or Greece?

Travelers to Wales from Zakynthos were asked to self-isolate earlier in the week, but the changes mean that those who don’t self-isolate face potential fines.

Greece had not been on the exemption list, except in Scotland, where it was added on Tuesday.

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said he had made the decision due to a large number of coronavirus cases “imported into Wales by tourists returning from the Greek islands.”

He said there were more than 20 confirmed cases in passengers on a flight from Zante to Cardiff.

In TwitterUK Government Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ruled out similar changes in England on Thursday.