Scotland imposes 14-day quarantine on arrivals from Luxembourg over surge in coronavirus cases
Scotland is to impose 14-day quarantine on arrivals in the country from Luxembourg, its government announced today.
The measures, which follow the UK-wide quarantine move against Spain last weekend, will come into effect from midnight and seems almost certain to be followed by similar moves in England and the other home nations.
In a statement this afternoon, SNP justice minister Humza Yousaf said: ‘This decision is based on the latest available data from the Joint Biosecruity Centre and it gives another clear indication that the virus is active and still spreading.
‘We have always maintained that we are closely monitoring the pandemic situation in all countries and we will impose quarantine requirements as necessary in a bid to protect the public.
‘This virus is showing a resurgence in areas and it should not be forgotten how deadly it remains. Our priority to is suppress the virus, prevent it from being transmitted and protecting public health.’
Luxembourg, along with Belgium, had been mooted as ripe for a return to quarantine travel in recent days. The tiny duchy, which borders France, Belgium and Germany, has the highest incidence of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in Europe.
The measures, which follow the UK-wide quarantine move against Spain last weekend, will come into effect from midnight and seems almost certain to be followed by similar moves in England and the other home nations
Luxembourg has the highest incidence of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in Europe
In a statement this afternoon, SNP justice minister Humza Yousaf said: ‘This decision is based on the latest available data from the Joint Biosecruity Centre and it gives another clear indication that the virus is active and still spreading’
It came as Boris Johnson today urged Britons not to ‘delude themselves’ that the coronavirus crisis is over amid fears of a second wave of cases across Europe.
The Prime Minister said the public should not ‘lose focus’ and pointed to evidence that local outbreaks are ‘bubbling up’ in 30 different areas of the UK.
His comments came after Health Secretary Matt Hancock denied stoking up Covid-19 panic and hysteria after he warned a second wave was ‘starting to roll across Europe’ – and defended the sudden decision to add Spain to the list of quarantine countries and extending the isolation period to ten days for people who have tested positive or have symptoms.