England introduces new targeted ‘islands policy’ to travel corridors
Seven Greek islands are no longer in a travel corridor with the UK
According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and, as stated on the GOV.UK: “People arriving in England from Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos or Zakynthos from 4am Wednesday 9 September will need to self-isolate for two weeks.”
This is due to the Joint Biosecurity Centre having assessed these destinations to have a higher public health risk for UK travellers. The rest of Greece remains exempt from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s advice against all non-essential travel.
Implementing risk assessment to help boost the travel industry
GOV.UK reasons that, in line with the new regulations, an area that presents a higher or lower public health risk to UK travellers can be assessed separately to the rest of the country. Islands with low incidences of Covid-19 could therefore be exempt from UK quarantine even if the mainland isn’t – a targeted approach that allows international travel to continue while supporting the economy.
Announcements on which islands and countries will be added or removed will continue to be made as part of the current weekly process, says GOV.UK. These will be based on ‘robust data’ that proves they are safe.
“Our top priority has always been to keep domestic infection rates down, and today we’re taking the next step in our approach. Through the use of enhanced data we will now be able to pinpoint risk in some of the most popular islands, providing increased flexibility to add or remove them – distinct from the mainland – as infection rates change,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said. “This development will help boost the UK’s travel industry while continuing to maintain maximum protection to public health, keeping the travelling public safe.”