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A second passenger plane from Zante to Cardiff You have been told to isolate yourself.
The Welsh government announced the move, related to a flight landing from the Greek holiday island on Tuesday evening, as they said they are “concerned” about travelers returning to Wales from the area. Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced the move, as he said there were “several examples of Covid-19 positive travelers who have not isolated themselves upon returning to Wales.”
It comes after at least 16 people tested positive for coronavirus after a flight from Zante to Cardiff airport.
Gething said there are currently six clusters of infections amounting to more than 30 cases in the last week of four flights. Two of these flights landed in England.
Gething said: “Our public health teams are concerned that current screening and counseling measures for returning travelers are insufficient.
“Unfortunately our communicable disease control consultants have several examples of Covid-19 positive travelers who have not isolated themselves upon returning to Wales. That is a real concern for all of us.”
On the day that a further 51 cases of the virus, as well as one more death, were confirmed in Wales, Mr Gething announced:
- All passengers on the flight from Zante / Zakynthos to Cardiff on Tuesday, September 1 will receive a letter before leaving the airport requesting that they self-isolate for 14 days due to the risk of spreading Covid-19 unknowingly to others.
- All passengers will be offered a Covid-19 antigen test within 48 hours of their return and will be offered a repeat test eight days after returning home.
Travelers from Greece will also need to isolate themselves at home for 14 days upon arriving in Scotland from Thursday morning, the Scottish government announced Tuesday.
A passenger aboard an affected flight to Cardiff last week said she was not surprised that all travelers had to isolate themselves after seven initial positive coronavirus tests, which subsequently doubled.
Stephanie Whitfield from Cardiff said it was very apparent from the moment they got on the plane that many of the passengers “had not been educated about wearing masks” and states that a large number of people wore them around the chin and they were allowed to walk through the corridors without being stopped.
On Tuesday, Public Health Wales confirmed that there have been no further increases in the cases identified on the flight. All passengers on the flight have been sent an email with instructions to isolate themselves.
The Incident Director for the response to the novel coronavirus outbreak at Public Health Wales, Dr. Christopher Williams, said: “Cardiff and Vale Test, Trace and Protect (TTP) and Public Health Wales have identified at least 16 confirmed cases of Covid- 19 from three different parties that went on TUI flight 6215 from Zante to Cardiff on August 25.
“Seven of the 16 were infectious at the time of the flight. As a result, we are reporting that all passengers on this flight are considered close contacts and must isolate themselves.”
“All passengers are being followed by their local TTP teams and must isolate themselves at home as they can become infectious, even without developing symptoms. Anyone with symptoms should book a test without delay. “
Some symptomatic passengers underwent a test two days after landing, added Dr. Williams. He said: “We remind the public and business owners that the coronavirus is still circulating in the community. We all have a vital role in preventing the spread of the coronavirus by adhering to social distancing guidelines, meaning staying six feet from others and washing hands regularly. “
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