ATHENS – As part of a plan to revive its important tourism sector, Greece will lift quarantine restrictions for incoming member states of the European Union and several other countries, including the United States and Britain, from Monday.
The move opens national borders for the first time in more than a year for travelers from the United States.
Greece is determined to save its summer tourist season, although a third wave of coronavirus infections is in effect, suffered major economic losses last year due to the pandemic. The pressure on hospitals is high, with about 200,000 active coronavirus infections and a death toll of 9,462 as of Sunday.
Greece previously had to arrive in quarantine for seven days, but will waive the rule of passengers from the listed countries, provided there is a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of their arrival.
The rule relaxation also applies to travelers from Serbia and the United Arab Emirates, and it reflects a system introduced last month for passengers from Israel, which has a world-leading vaccination campaign.
Greek government officials said the goal was to have a “gradual” welcome of tourists ahead of a planned official reopening of the country’s tourism sector on May 14.
A test drive was organized last week by experts from the travel industry on the island of Rhodes in the southern Aegean Sea, with a group of 188 Dutch tourists.
The Dutch visitors were exclusively made use of a hotel on the island, to which they were confined for an eight-day holiday. They have been tested for coronavirus before their arrival, during their stay and before their departure on Monday, and will have to be self-quarantined for ten days upon their return. The trial has so far been generally considered successful, although eight of the group were forced to isolate themselves inside the hotel following unconvincing test results during the middle of the holiday. Follow-up tests were negative.
Authorities have launched the tests in recent weeks as they have gradually lifted the restrictions on closure. Retail stores may open on an appointment basis this month, and high schools will reopen after a five-month closure. Free Greek pharmacies can use free quick tests weekly, and this is compulsory in schools as well as in the retail sector.