Greece
Travel restrictions
As of July 1st, flights have resumed to most Greek airports.
Flights to and from the United Kingdom began on July 15th, but may be stopped abruptly if random testing reveals a percentage of COVID-19 positive results deemed too high.
Flights from Turkey are banned through August 31st.
The following restrictions apply until January 21st:
- All passengers of international flights arriving to Greece will have to show a negative molecular test (PCR) for COVID-19, taken up to 72 hours before their entry. Upon their arrival, they will also be subject to random testing (rapid tests) as per the procedure described in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
- All flight passengers entering Greece, whether arriving from a third country or from a European Union Member State, will have to self-isolate for 7days, as a precaution, at home or at their sojourn address stated in the PLF form.
- Flights from the United Kingdom: All incoming passengers from the United Kingdom will have to take a rapid test upon arrival. They will additionally have to take a new PCR test, once their 7-day isolation period ends. If the outcome is negative, then the precautionary mandatory self-isolation will be lifted. In the event of a positive test result, a 14-day self-quarantine will be imposed.
- Flights to/from Turkey and to/from Catalonia, Spain remain suspended.
- Non-EU citizens are not allowed to enter Greece. Exceptions apply to residents of the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Until January 18th, 2021, domestic flights across the country will be allowed only for essential travel.
EU passport holders are allowed entry, including permanent residents of Schengen countries, plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, Ireland and the UK. Non-EU passport holders with EU permanent residence permits may enter Greece.
The Bulgarian Promachonas border station is open. All entrants must have a doctor’s certificate written in English and a negative molecular test for COVID-19 conducted no more than 72 hours prior.
The land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, and Turkey is allowed for essential travel.
As of November 9th, 2020 arrivals by sea (e.g. of private yachts, cruise ships, ferries and any other type of tourist boat), regardless of flag or port of origin, are prohibited. Ferry service with Turkey and Albania has been discontinued until further notice.
Twenty four hours before entering Greece, visitors will have to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) where they will provide their contact details in the country. Targeted and random testing will take place to aid the epidemiological research.
On July 9th, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted procedures for international arrivals: https://travel.gov.gr/#/
If you are tested for COVID-19, you are permitted to travel to your final destination where you must self quarantine for 24 hours. If positive, you will be notified and quarantined for 14 days. If negative, you will not be notified, and there are no additional quarantine restrictions.
On January 8th, 2021, Greek authorities announced a seven-day mandatory quarantine for all travelers arriving through January 21st, 2021.
Measures taken by the government
The Greek government announced its two-month plan in reopening Greece’s market in several stages. Greece’s return to normalcy will take place starting from May 4th with the opening of some shops and services, such as bookstores, electronic stores and hair salons. More shops and services will open on May 11th, continue to open on May 18th and then again on June 1st.
From June 1st and for the period of a month, stages 4 to 7 will be implemented. These stages will start lifting one by one the lockdown restrictions and reopen the market in the following order: shopping malls, outdoor restaurants, cafes, summer cinemas, year-round hotels, amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor playgrounds, indoor restaurants, indoor cafes, seasonal hotels and resorts, and indoor sports facilities.
Travel by ferry to and from Greek islands is permitted. Masks are required. Passengers must complete a health status questionnaire and submit to a temperature check prior to boarding for trips longer than 30 minutes.
The Greek government has announced more strict measures to combat the rising number of COVID-19 cases, using a three-tiered system beginning November 3rd, 2020.
As of November 3rd, across the country, regardless of the level of health safety and protection of each area, the following applies:
- Mandatory use of masks everywhere.
- Mandatory telework at least 50% in the private and public sector.
- Compulsory distance learning in universities.
- Suspension of visitation in all welfare structures.
- All retail and wholesale, as well as industry are open. Schools open. The open-air archeological sites are open. Hotels and hairdressers are open.
In addition, from November 3rd, the 4 levels of health insurance and protection are merged into 2 levels in the following way:
- level 1 (green) and level 2 (yellow) are merged into level A '-supervision (yellow)
- levels 3 (orange) and 4 (red) merge into level B '- increased risk (red).
In regions with “increased risk” (red), gatherings of any size are banned, restaurants are restricted to take-out/delivery only, and operation of museums, gyms, playgrounds, movie theaters, nightclubs and other entertainment facilities is suspended.
As of November 2nd, 2020, the following regions are on “high alert” and subject to increased preventive measures: Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Boeotia, Drama, Evros, Imathia, Thira, Ioannina, Kavala, Kastoria, Kilkis, Kozani, Larissa, Naxos, Xanthi, Rodopi, Serres, Trikala, Halkidiki.
Further restrictive measures may be imposed in any region with higher incidence of COVID-19 with little to no advance notice.
Greek authorities have reimposed a lockdown through January 16th, 2021 to combat the spread of COVID-19. Authorities announced 24-hour movement restrictions, mandatory three day quarantine for travelers arriving from abroad, an expanded nighttime curfew from 9pm to 5am, suspension of many business and entertainment operations, prohibition of gatherings, restrictions of restaurant operations to delivery/carry-out only, and restrictions on travel between regions in Greece.
These measures will be coupled with a strict enforcement effort.
Emergency number (related to COVID-19) while visiting the country
While in Greece, if you notice any symptoms related to COVID-19, please call the National Public Health Organization in 1135.
Source:
Destination Greece - Health First https://greecehealthfirst.gr/
Published on January 12th (checked on January 13th)
US Embassy in Greece https://gr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
Published on January 13th (checked on January 13th)
Greek General Secretariat for Civil Protection: Press Release on New Measures https://www.civilprotection.gr/el/simantika-themata/enimerosi-kai-exeidikeysi-metron-apo-ton-yfypoyrgo-politikis-prostasias (Greek only)
Published on October 31st (checked on January 13th)
For more information please visit our COVID-19 Updates page at https://www.hiddentrails.com/article/covid19update.aspx