AN intensive care nurse must isolate for ten days after missing a Covid quarantine deadline by just five hours.
Joana Santos, 29, flew into Stansted, Essex, from Portugal at 9am yesterday.
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Portugal was cut from the UK green list at 4am due to a late rule change.
Joana, who had been to visit relatives, had tried to get an earlier flight.
She fought back tears as she told how she now can’t immediately return to the Covid-19 front line at London’s Royal Free Hospital.
She said: “We tried to get a flight back yesterday but the websites were crashing and we couldn’t get a seat.
“It is insulting to us, I’ve been in the ICU helping for all this time.
“We have been fighting this awful virus and trying to save lives everyday.
“I finally went to see my family after two years and then the government announced the change in Portugal’s status while we are away and now myself and my husband have to miss work.
“He also works at the hospital, so it is really very upsetting for us both.
We’ve both had double jabs as well.
“The difference of a few hours now means I can’t go and help people that need me.”
