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Update – 15/06/2020

As of the latest update by the Greek authorities yesterday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 diagnosed cases in Greece is 3,121. No new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, leaving the total number of fatalities at 183. The number of patients treated in intensive care units stands at 13, while 116 patients have left the intensive care unit.

MEASURES/ RESTRICTIONS

  • Five nightclubs in Attica were ordered to close over the weekend after raids on Friday night conducted by units of the Hellenic Police and the Development Ministry’s General Secretariat for Trade and Consumer Protection established that the businesses had violated hygiene protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, notably by permitting excessive overcrowding. The businesses, located in the port city of Piraeus and the Kerameikos and Gazi districts of central Athens, were fined a total of 15,000 euros, according to police sources who did not specify how long they would have to remain closed for.
  • The shutdowns followed the closure last Thursday of a nightclub in Alimos where more than 1,000 people had attended a party the night before. The club had been fined 20,000 euros and would have to remain closed for two months.
  • Teams from the National Health Organization (EODY) will remain in the regional unit of Xanthi, in northeastern Greece, to conduct more tests for the coronavirus in an ongoing effort to halt its spread in the area, Health Ministry adviser said on Friday, following a visit to the region. The visit comes a day after the General Secretariat for Civil Protection announced restrictions for the region of Xanthi after 15 coronavirus infections were reported there in one day while imposing a curfew on the village of Echinos, where most of the cases were traced.
  • The outbreak mostly concerns communities in the municipality of Mykis and ruled out the possibility of a lockdown in Xanthi. In the broader region of Xanthi the use of face masks will be compulsory in all shops and other businesses.

TOURISM

  • Greece is opening its borders to mass tourism in stages, starting today, hoping its success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic will attract visitors from abroad. International flights from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands will be allowed to Athens International Airport.
  • The announcement was part of a broader scheme for the next phase of Greece’s reopening which foresees the resumption of all international flights to Thessaloniki airport from June 15 except those from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia. Flights from Albania and North Macedonia to Athens International Airport will only be permitted for “essential travel.”
  • Foreign ferries are forbidden from docking at Greek ports, while pleasure boats are permitted with only crew aboard. As regards land arrivals, they will be permitted from Bulgaria as of today, but remain banned for Turkey, Albania and North Macedonia (with the exception of absolutely necessary business trips). Those restrictions will be lifted on July 1 for Albania and North Macedonia, while the situation with Turkey will be reviewed on June 30.
  • From July 1, all international arrivals will be allowed to all Greek airports and foreign ferries will be permitted to dock at Greek ports.
  • Passengers arriving at Athens and Thessaloniki airports between June 15 and 30 from airports that are not on a list of countries compiled by the European Aviation Safety Agency, where the coronavirus infection rate is deemed to be low, will be subject to random tests and will be quarantined for a day pending the results, and for a total of 14 days if the results are positive. For flights from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, tests will be conducted on all passengers.
  • Passengers arriving from July 1 from all destinations will be subject to random tests and will face a 14-day quarantine if the results are positive. All passengers will be obliged to fill in an electronic form with their contact details in Greece.

CULTURE

  • Museums across the country reopen today after a three-month shutdown imposed by health authorities to halt the spread of the coronavirus. A two-meter indoors and a 1.5-meter outdoors distance among all visitors will be observed for visitors alongside the mandatory use of protective face masks. The maximum number of for tour groups will be eight people.

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