Hampshire teens test positive for coronavirus after trip to Crete - but Wizz Air not informed by health officials

FLAWS in the country’s test and trace system have been highlighted after a group of Hampshire teenagers tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Crete.
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The Guardian reports that health officials have been left scrambling to contact more than 200 passengers who were passengers on the same flight back from the Greek Island as the eight teens from Winchester.

The teenage holidaymakers tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to London Luton Airport on August 25.

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According to the report the airline the group had flown with Wizz Air had not been made aware of the cases until contacted by The Guardian.

Swab samples being taken at a coronavirus test and trace centre. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA WireSwab samples being taken at a coronavirus test and trace centre. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Swab samples being taken at a coronavirus test and trace centre. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

A father of one of the teenagers who has tested positive for coronavirus told the newspaper that he had not been contacted by the NHS test-and-trace system.

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Concern grows that young people in Portsmouth are driving recent spike in Covid ...

Damian Stafford, 52, explained: ‘It just seemed like a shocking lack of response really.’

It comes after Portsmouth’s director of public health asked young people to be ‘sensible' and to remember simple hygiene measures after concerns were raised that they are driving a recent spike in Covid cases.

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Helen Atkinson said: ‘We continue to see a low infection rate in Portsmouth but numbers of confirmed cases have seen a slight increase.

'Regionally and locally we are seeing an increase in young adults, those in their 20s and 30s, including those who are returning from European holidays.

‘We will be keeping a close watch on our local infection rates and have comprehensive plans in place to deal with any local outbreaks to stop further spread of the virus.’

Pressure is also mounting on England to consider imposing quarantine rules on travellers arriving from Greece amid reports of people returning with coronavirus.

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Rising Covid cases prompted the Scottish Government to announce travellers from Greece would have to self-isolate for 14 days from Thursday, while Wales began asking arrivals from the island of Zante to enter quarantine.

The UK’s biggest tour operator Tui has suspended its holidays to the resort of Laganas on Zante.

But Greece has insisted it is doing ‘everything in our power’ to keep UK holidaymakers safe.

It comes as rising cases in Portugal were prompting many UK tourists to pay hundreds of pounds to fly home before Saturday.

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Keep up to date with the latest coronavirus news in Portsmouth with our Coronavirus Updates Facebook group.

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