Public Health England has confirmed two further positive coronavirus tests following a flight from Zante to Bristol Airport.
easyJet said one passenger was diagnosed with Covid-19 after flying on September 2 from the Greek island also known as Zakynthos, as Bristol Live revealed yesterday (September 8).
Public Health England (PHE) initially denied any knowledge of the matter, but it has today confirmed two more cases.
A PHE spokesman said: "We have been notified of three positive cases on the flight and have contacted 27 passengers who we believe are close contacts of the cases telling them to self-isolate."
It comes after a mum claimed six of the 13 teenage friends her son travelled with on the flight have since tested positive.
Asked why PHE has not told all people on the flight to self-isolate, the spokesman said: "That’s because only close contacts need to be notified and advised to self-isolate."
He added: "We have told close contacts of each case to immediately isolate as they were at high risk of catching the infection on the flight.
"All other passengers on the flight were at some risk and should immediately isolate themselves if they experience Covid-19 like symptoms and get tested."
Bristol Live has asked easyJet how many people were on the plane, and the flight number of the journey.
One woman who flew the route that day said the plane "seemed virtually full, perhaps a couple of spare seats".
She said: "I was on a flight from Zante to Bristol on September 2, flight EZY6130. I've not had any contact from anyone about this.
"We haven't been self-isolating because we hadn't heard, and will not self-isolate unless we have official confirmation to do so.
"I am not particularly worried to be honest. The flight was very well managed and we felt far safer on Zakynthos than we do at home."
easyJet said it had worked with PHE to provide flight information, adding: "Any advice for other customers on board is provided to them by the health authority."
But PHE told Bristol Live yesterday: "We were not aware of the easyJet flight with positive cases. It is possible that the passengers used the NHS national test and trace service, who have not notified us."
Now PHE has explained why its South West team was not aware of the outbreak.
Its spokesman said: "There is a specialist team within PHE that collects data on positive cases reported on flights into the UK, that sits separately to the local South West team."
Five new coronavirus cases were confirmed yesterday in Bristol, following a rise of 15 the day before.
easyJet says the health and wellbeing of its passengers and crew is its highest priority.
Its spokeswoman said: "We have implemented enhanced safety measures due to the pandemic including mandatory masks onboard and enhanced daily cleaning and disinfection effective in protecting against coronavirus for at least 24 hours.”
The confirmed cases come just over a week after news broke of at least seven positive cases on a Tui flight from Zante to Cardiff. All passengers on the flight were told to self-isolate.
Bristol Airport has been approached for comment.
