After some confusion on the subject, Greece has confirmed that it will remove all restrictions on Covid entry for all visitors this Sunday.
This means that passengers will no longer have to show evidence of vaccination or a negative PCR test result on entry.
According to officials from Marketing Greece and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), the country’s Health Experts Committee has proposed that the government remove entry requirements during a meeting Thursday.
A government statement issued last night said: “At today’s meeting, the expert commission of the Ministry of Health unanimously recommended:
Stop the Covid pass from May 1 and return the capacity to 100%.
Suspension of the EUDCC certificate at the country’s entrance gates.
The Commission’s proposal is accepted by the government and the details to be clarified in the new Joint Ministerial Decision on [be] issued. “
As of Sunday, unvaccinated visitors can enter the country without pre-travel tests, a measure Greece has complied with for many months.
However, Health Minister Thanos Pleuris said yesterday that the rules for wearing masks indoors could remain for longer.
When asked on television when masks could become optional, he said: “We don’t know. The measure of wearing masks indoors may not be removed, as the mask is a light measure.
“What we are proposing is that the indoor masks will continue in May and then, based on the epidemiological picture in the country, decisions will be made in June.
Earlier this month, Mr Pleuris announced on television that Covid’s cases had decreased enough in the country to “continue to suspend the protection measures introduced from 1 May”.
Many understood that this meant all the remaining measures for Covid, but in the coming weeks the tourism official clarified that wearing masks (in closed public places) will remain at least until June.
However, earlier this week, tourism officials still said no official announcement had been made about easing entry rules for holidaymakers, suggesting the current rules are likely to remain in place until May.
Tourism organizations have now confirmed the easing of the May 1st border rules, although ministers call it a “suspension” for the summer, not a final end to the rules.
Mr Pleuris said the mandatory restrictions on masks would be reviewed before June, while the relaxed rules would generally be reviewed just before September.
At present, travelers must wear a mask in all indoor public places, including public transport and taxis.
Fully vaccinated Britons traveling to Greece today or tomorrow before the May 1 rule change will still have to withdraw their Covid Pass, ready to show at the border.
Those who are not fully vaccinated must show a negative PCR result from a test performed within 72 hours before arrival. Valid evidence of recovery from Covid-19 within the previous 180 days is also accepted.
Those who use a vaccine certificate to enter the country should make sure that their second injection is “on date” – in line with much of the EU, Greece considers that the second doses have expired after nine months, in at which point passengers must have received a booster injection to be recognized as fully vaccinated.
There is currently no expiration date for boosters.
Add Comment