HOLIDAYMAKERS returning from Zante to Wales have been asked to self isolate for 14 days as more than than 30 cases of coronavirus linked to the island have now been recorded here.

The cases - in six clusters - have been identified by the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service in the last week.

They have come from four flights from Zante, where there are no quarantine restrictions.

Two of the flights landed in Cardiff, and two at airports in England, said health minister Vaughan Gething, in a statement to Senedd Members.

It is "almost certain" that travellers returning to Wales from areas of incidence of Covid-19 is higher, will bring "a further seeding of infections within Wales", he warned.

Mr Gething also said there is a need for the UK Government and devolved adminstrations to consider making self-isolation mandatory for travellers returning from Greece and "possibly elsewhere".

Immediate concern - in the wake of the cases identified from the Zante-Cardiff Tui flight which arrived last Tuesday, August 25, and other flights - focused on a flight due into Cardiff from Zante at 10.40pm last night.

All passengers on that flight were given a letter before leaving the airport, requesting that they self-isolate for 14 days due to the risk of unknowingly spreading Covid-19 to others.

They have also been offered a Covid-19 antigen test within 48 hours of their return and will be offered a repeat test 8 days after returning home.

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But a flight was also due from Zante into Bristol Airport last night, at 10.30pm. and another is due in there at 2.55pm this afternoon.

Both are likely to include passengers on their way back into Wales.

"There are concerns from our public health teams that the current advice and control measures for returning travellers are insufficient," said Mr Gething.

"Unfortunately our consultants in communicable disease control have several examples of Covid-19 positive travellers who have not self-isolated on return to Wales.

"That is a real concern for all of us.

"It is almost certain that travellers returning to Wales from areas of higher Covid-19 incidence will lead to further seeding of infections within Wales. Travel into Wales from mainland Europe drove the first wave of Covid-19.

"Without action it is likely that there will be significant health and economic impacts arising from new clusters of infections and renewed disease transmission in Wales.

"I am aware that travellers may be returning to Wales from Zante/Zakynthos from other airports outside of Wales.

"I ask that these travellers self-isolate for 14 days on their return and request a test once they arrive home and to repeat the test eight days after returning home.

"In addition, I have pressed for an early meeting with the UK government and devolved nations tomorrow to consider the latest assessment of risk by the Joint Biosecurity Centre.

"There is an obvious need for us to consider the potential for changes to the Regulations in Wales which would require travellers arriving in the UK from Greece and possibly elsewhere to self-isolate on their return.

"This is a dynamic situation and I will continue to review what measures may be required in the future."