Update – 17/05/2021
May 17, 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 377,090. 50 new deaths were reported raising the total number to 11,415. The number of patients treated in intensive care units is currently 656. 1,262 new cases were announced yesterday in Greece. 613 of the new cases were found in the Attica region and 84 new cases in the Thessaloniki region.
Greece’s grand reopening to tourism following strict coronavirus restrictions on Friday is being met with optimism nationwide. Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis proclaimed this morning that “We are raising anchor,” as Greece opened its doors to foreign travelers. Greece’s tourism sector is one of the most important parts of its economy, accounting for more than 20% of GDP. The country is planning on rejuvenating its tourism sector after a difficult season last year due to the coronavirus.
Greece opens to tourism amid coronavirus
Greece’s plans for opening to tourism on Friday while keeping people safe from the coronavirus include entry requirements, comprehensive vaccination campaigns at tourist hotspots, and vaccine passports.
All those who travel to Greece will need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) a day before arriving. People entering the country, regardless of entrance point, will also need to either provide proof of a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours prior to touchdown or a certificate showing they have been fully vaccinated.
Greece is also planning on vaccinating both tourism sector workers and the residents of popular island destinations in order to minimize infections.
Greece has been criticized for having one of the slowest vaccination roll outs in Europe. But official data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDP) provide a more encouraging picture.
Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis was grilled on the BBC on Thursday about the country’s preparedness to open to travelers on Friday. The journalist insisted that Greece is vaccinating citizens at the slowest pace in Europe. This, however, appears to be only partly true, according to the latest report by the EU agency published on May 9.
The report says that only 27.6% adults 18 years and above in Greece have either registered to receive or received at least one vaccine dose.
This places Greece among the bottom 5 of EU countries in terms of vaccination rollouts. Only Croatia (26%), Romania (23.2%), Latvia (19.9%) and Bulgaria (11.2%) are in a worst situation than Greece according to this metric.
The tiny Mediterranean nation of Malta tops the league of European nations with the fastest vaccination roll out in Europe.
In more detail, the 1,262 new cases detected per Regional Unit:
