TRAVELLERS arriving in Scotland from Hungary and Reunion will be required to quarantine on arrival from 4am on Saturday, the Scottish Government has announced.

Sweden will be added to the list of countries exempt from the 14-day quarantine requirements at the same time.

The Government said the decision is due to a "significant rise" of coronavirus cases in the two places newly added to the quarantine list.

Commenting on the changes, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "Despite the increase in cases in Scotland, the infection rate here is still relatively low and any importation of new cases is a significant risk to public health.

"I would also encourage people who have returned to Scotland from Hungary or Reunion in the last few days to be particularly careful in their social contacts and to ensure they stick to the Facts advice.

"Regular discussions continue with the other three governments in the UK.

"We continue to closely monitor the situation in all parts of the world and base the decisions we make on the scientific evidence available.

"It is a legal requirement to complete a passenger locator form and provide it to Border Force, wherever you have travelled from.

"The requirement for travellers to quarantine for 14 days on arrival from a non-exempt country is vital to help prevent transmission of the virus and to suppress it - not doing so poses a significant risk to wider public health across Scotland."

Failure to comply with the requirement to quarantine after entering Scotland can result in a fine of £480, although Yousaf last week revealed that just one fixed penalty notice had been issued for a "blatant breach" of the regulations.

Hungary and Reunion join Portugal and French Polynesia on the quarantine list, after those countries were moved on from 4am on September 4.

Greece has also been added to the list of countries from which people will need to self-isolate this month.

Anyone arriving in Scotland from the Aegean nation after 4am on September 3 has had to quarantine.

The full list of countries which are exempt from the quarantine requirements can be read on the Scottish Government's website.