Love Island's Zara Holland apologises to people of Barbados after 'breaking quarantine'

Love Island star Zara Holland has issued a grovelling apology to the government and people of Barbados after breaking quarantine in a bid to flee the isle when her boyfriend tested positive for Covid-19. 

In a statement issued on behalf of the former Miss England, the 25-year-old model claimed her decision to break the Barbados’ strict coronavirus rules had been a ‘massive mix-up and misunderstanding’.

Miss Holland and Elliott Love, 30, were detained by officials at Grantley Adams International Airport after breaching their quarantine conditions to remain at their hotel when Elliott tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

In a statement, published by Barbados Today news website, said: ‘I firstly want to apologise to the entire country of Barbados for what has been a massive mix up and misunderstanding during my most recent stay.

‘I am currently working with the local authorities to rectify any issues on my part and will issue an update and full statement which I think is the only right thing to do to the Government and citizens of Barbados.

‘I have been a guest of this lovely island in excess of 20 years and would never do anything to jeopardise an entire nation that I have nothing but love and respect for and which has treated me as a family.’

The couple were initially placed in isolation at a specialist Covid-19 quarantine facility in northern Barbados.

Miss Holland has since been released after testing negative for a second time for the virus but Mr Love remains at the facility, Barbados Today reported.

Elliott’s brother Harvey told MailOnline: ‘Zara is out of quarantine. She is in a hotel.’

The Love Island star, who remains on the island, faces up to 12 months in jail and a £18,000 fine for breaking Barbados’ strict Covid-19 quarantine rules.

The pair are thought to have had a test when they arrived on the island on Sunday.

After receiving his result on Tuesday, they are said to have been given red wristbands – handed out by hotels for guests who have not yet tested negative for the virus – but allegedly cut them off and tried to make their way to the airport in a taxi.

A member of staff at the £300-a-night Sugar Bay resort hotel is said to have found the bands and called police, who reportedly found the couple at the airport, where they were arrested.

In Barbados yesterday, the Daily Nation reported: ‘Sources told the Daily Nation that the high-profile couple were taken into police custody and then transported to the quarantine [facility] at Harrison Point, St Lucy.

‘When released, they could face charges of breaching the quarantine protocol which carry a $50,000 [£18,000] fine, imprisonment for a year or both.

‘The couple, who have been dating for four years, arrived here last Sunday aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight and were to be quarantining in a Christ Church hotel. Visitors have to be cleared after two mandatory tests, which usually take about three days.

‘However, after Ministry of Health officials informed them that one of them had tested positive, the couple apparently removed their red wristbands, boarded a taxi to Grantley Adams International Aiport and attempted to book a flight back to the United Kingdom aboard British Airways.

‘Sources said while the male is in isolation until he recovers from the virus, the 25-year-old model who won a major beauty contest in the UK, was under quarantine until tests prove that she did not have the virus. However, if she turns out to be positive, she too will be isolated.’

A tourist was jailed for six months earlier this week for breaching Barbados’ strict Covid-19 protocols, even though he’d only popped out for a drink.

Dean George Scott, 49, from Jamaica, admitted leaving quarantine to ‘buy Fanta’ and other snacks after arriving on the holiday island at the beginning of December, when he appeared in court.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes said the sentence served as a ‘clear warning’ to others.

He said: ‘I got to send a message to you and to all the other people that this cannot be tolerated. We have made too much gain, so you have to do six months. Walking out of quarantine no man, this cannot be allowed.’ 

Other guests at Sugar Bay are not having to quarantine as a result of the couple’s alleged breach, with staff confident no one else came into close contact, but visitors isolate on arrival anyway until a negative test is confirmed. 

The couple were thought to be being held on a Covid ward at the St Lucy Hospital in northern Barbados before Holland was allowed to return to a hotel. 

A Barbadian police spokesman said: ‘Zara Holland has been released from a medical facility to go to her designated hotel. Elliott Love remains a resident at the medical facility.’ 

Island chief medical officer Dr Kenneth George said: ‘There are three tourists who are of special interest. Two are in quarantine and one in police custody. 

‘Two were apprehended at the airport. This is a police matter and I trust that the appropriate evidence will be submitted.’ 

While a spokesman for the country’s Ministry of Health and Wellness added: ‘Police have held for questioning at least three tourists in relation to alleged breaches. 

‘We will take firm action against any individuals who breach protocols.’ 

Meanwhile, local reports in Barbados say that airport staff have been quarantined after coming into contact wit
h two British tourists, believed to be the couple. 

Last night the Foreign Office confirmed they were aware of Zara Holland and Elliot Love’s antics.

An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting a British man and woman in quarantine in Barbados, and are in contact with their family.’

MailOnline has contacted Zara’s representatives for a comment. 

Before arriving in Barbados visitors have to fill out an online form and preferably include an upload of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

It is then mandatory for travellers from High-Risk and Medium-Risk countries to receive a second test while on island. 

While waiting for the results visitors then have to restrict their movements to their accommodation and cannot have visitors.

If the result is positive, then the person is assessed at a government facility for a minimum of 24 hours. After this there is the option to self-isolate at your own expense or go to a government isolation location, such as the Paragon Military Base.

However if a positive test is returned, the visitor cannot return home. They have to isolate until they have recovered. Upon recovery, you can resume your vacation or return home, Visit Barbados explains. 

The country has had just 383 Covid cases and only seven deaths since the start of the pandemic.  

Zara, who was de-crowned of her Miss Great Britain title after romping with Alex Bowen on reality show Love Island back in 2016, found love with boyfriend Elliott.

The pair struck up a romance just months after Zara left the show, and she later told the Daily Star that he was ‘the one’.

She gushed: ‘We’re very happy together and have such a great time. He is absolutely amazing and he’s definitely the one.’