Update – 15/04/2021
April 15, 2021
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As of the latest update by the Greek authorities, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 304,184. 81 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 9,135. The number of patients treated in intensive care units is currently 809. 3,089 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece. 1,383 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 475 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.
The Greek Minister of Labor, Kostis Hatzidakis, announced Wednesday that a large number of workers across many sectors will be required to take a self test for the coronavirus every week. Hatzidakis explained that all those who work in the retail sector, as well as those who work in essential businesses such as supermarkets, will have to take the self test once a week. Additionally, those who work in transport, along with those who are employed by cleaning services, will be required to conduct a weekly test.
Workers in the service industry, such as in bakeries and cafes, also must administer the Covid-19 test each week, as well as those who work in hair salons.
Hatzidakis stressed that workers who do not conduct self tests will be fined 300 euros, and if they do not report the results of their test on the government’s online platform, they will be hit with a 500 euro fine.
If a business owner allows an employee whose test came back positive to work, they will face a massive fine of 1,500 euros.
Self tests are now free and available to all Greeks at pharmacies across the country. Currently, high school teachers and students have to take the test two times each week.
The Digital Governance Ministry submitted an amendment to Parliament on Wednesday so that people who do not have a tax registration number (AFM) or a police ID card can be granted a temporary social security number (AMKA) from Citizens’ Service Centers (KEP) to obtain self-testing kits by registering on the relevant digital platform.
To get an AMKA, interested parties must have an Expatriate Special Identity Card, a birth certificate, a passport and a temporary or permanent residence permit. The amendment will be voted on Thursday. The same amendment sets out the procedure whereby a coronavirus vaccination appointment can be made by those who have obtained a temporary AMKA.
Greece is set to ease travel from abroad and lift the quarantine requirement for American, British and EU travelers by next week, provided they are vaccinated or can show a negative test. The move comes as Greece is gradually relaxing travel restrictions towards the official opening of the tourist season on May 14. “We will gradually lift the restrictions at the beginning of next week ahead of the opening on May 14,” a senior tourism ministry official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Who could travel to Greece
The official said citizens from the European Union, the United States, Britain, Serbia, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be allowed to travel to Greece via the airports of Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu, and two border crossings. Passengers from those countries will not be quarantined, as long as they prove that they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or show a negative PCR test carried out 72 hours prior to their arrival, the official said, adding the tourists would be subject to domestic lockdown restrictions.
Under current rules, all foreigners arriving in Greece should test negative and quarantine for seven days.
For passengers from Britain and the United Arab Emirates, a second mandatory test is also required upon their arrival.
EU agrees on “Green Certificates” for travel
The 27 member states of the European Union agreed Wednesday to the use of “green certificates” to facilitate travel across the bloc. Each certificate will show its holder’s vaccination status, whether or not they’ve recovered from the virus and have antibodies, or if they have a negative Covid-19 test result. This certificate, which will be available virtually and in paper form, will allow Europeans to travel across the EU with ease this upcoming summer season.
Both the paper and digital forms will have a QR code that contains necessary key information as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic.
The Commission will build a gateway and support member states to develop software that authorities can use to verify all certificate signatures across the EU.
The certificates will be available free of charge and in the official language or languages of the issuing Member State and English.
While the members of the EU all approved the use of the document on Wednesday, the details will be finalized in May.
Israeli travelers
Last month, Greek authorities have decided to accept 10,000 vaccinated Israeli tourists per week as part of its “Green Pass” initiative, allowing vaccinated individuals into the country as a way to kick off the Greek tourism season this Spring.
All the Israelis who will be allowed to visit Greece must show a certificate showing they have received vaccinations, have tested negative, or have antibodies against, the coronavirus.
Passenger Locator Form (PLF) document required
All travelers must complete their PLF until the day before entering Greece and leaving the country, providing detailed information on their point of departure, the duration of previous stays in other countries, and the address of their stay.
In case of multiple stays, they are required to provide the address for the first 24 hours at least. One PLF should be submitted per family.
Travelers will receive a confirmation email upon submission of the PLF.
Travelers will receive the PLF with their unique Quick Response (QR) code on the day of their scheduled arrival in Greece and will be notified via email (the QR code will be provided in a link in the confirmation email).
Travelers boarding or embarking on the previous day of the arrival will be allowed to do so upon showing the confirmation email, since they will receive their QR code during their flight or voyage.
The PLF can also be found on the Visit Greece app and at travel.gov.gr. It is strongly recommended that all visitors download the Visit Greece app (GDPR compliant) for free, prior their arrival in Greece.
In more detail, the 3,089 new cases detected per Regional Unit:
