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Post by daveh on May 31, 2020 8:53:52 GMT 2
FOr anybody thinking of bye passing the no direct flights from UK and travelling via say Germany here is what the Greek Government had to say about Nationals of Countries not on the list (like UK) arriving from those that are...….
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek officials said Saturday that the country will not limit arriving airline passengers next month to people coming from 29 countries but that travelers who departed from places that aren’t on the initial list will be subject to mandatory testing for the coronavirus upon arrival and a quarantine period of one or two weeks. The two-tiered policy, which revised information the Greek government issued Friday, will be applied during June 15-30, although officials left open the possibility of maintaining entry restrictions after the end of June.
What they haven't said is where the quarantine period will be spent.....in one of their designated places or if you have a holiday home here you can go there.....but clearly if you did you would have to go via a super market etc to stock up. All a bit vague and my advice would be not to bother coming until the UK is on the list.
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Post by daveh on Jun 1, 2020 6:17:40 GMT 2
To expand on the previous entry the news is now as follows...…
Greece has changed its mind and will allow Brits to visit on holiday next month but holidaymakers will have to follow strict quarantine rules.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Brits will be tested for coronavirus on arrival into the country and if negative, will need to self-quarantine for seven days.
If the test is positive, then holidaymakers will be required to quarantine under supervision for 14 days. The announcement comes days after the country's government said that it would be banning the UK when international flights resume on June 15 because of our poor coronavirus record.
It doesn't really help for package holidays due to the 7 day self-quarantine. Also there will still be the 14 day quarantine when you return to the UK but it may just work for those with holiday homes here or staying with friends. However will that be enough for the airlines to fly?
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Post by daveh on Jun 1, 2020 6:21:22 GMT 2
ATHENS, June 1. / TASS /. Hotels, summer cinemas, swimming pools, marriage agencies, golf courses and massage salons are scheduled to open up in Greece on June 1, as part of the next phase to ease strict restrictive measures introduced in early March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the country's Ministry of Development and Investments representative said on Monday. Starting Monday, June 1, hotels operating 12 months out of the year (seasonal hotels will start working on June 15), campsites and campgrounds (with the exception of children's camps), summer cinemas, and banquet catering organizations, buffets and canteens in sports facilities, swimming pools for individual visits (sports teams were previously allowed), golf courses or mini-golf have all been allowed to open. Library and archival activities, weddings and a number of other recreational activities, the work of marriage agencies, tattoo parlors, piercing and massage salons, cultural associations and unions without the right to hold mass events are also opening up. Sunday markets and fairs will start working again. All of these organizations are required to comply with the rules of social distance to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
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Post by daveh on Jun 4, 2020 6:28:37 GMT 2
Further relaxations of lockdown announced as follows...…...….
June 6: indoor spaces of restaurants, hotel restaurants, the sale of drinks & foods at outdoors events, canteens but not canteens on wheels. Beach bars are allowed again sell alcohol, prepare food and play music. June 8: bars, internet cafes, night clubs, entertainment facilities with live music, shops with electronic games, gambling (coins) June 15: seasonal hotels and tourist accommodations, fitness facilities (gyms and pilates), museums, rehabilitation centers for disable people, therapeutic baths, spa, hamams, saunas, , recreation and thematic parks, remaining facilities for entertainment and recreation, prostitution facilities. June 29: summer camps for children July 1: concerts, conferences, fairs Health safety protocols are to be observed. School canteens, indoor cinemas, seniors’ day centers(KAPI), discos (without offer of drink/food), casinos and cards playing clubs will not re-open yet.
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Post by daveh on Jun 4, 2020 6:32:21 GMT 2
A flight to Athens from Qatar yesterday...….all 91 passengers put into quarantine after 14 were found to be positive following tests. Now suspend flights from Qatar.
Note added later: Qatar claim all passengers on the plane passed tests before boarding for the 5 hour flight to Athens!!!!!!! Something must be really wrong with their testing procedures imo.
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Post by daveh on Jun 9, 2020 8:35:00 GMT 2
Since last Thursday there have been 97 new cases of the virus; the biggest number for some time and since the lockdown eased. Of these 30 are arrivals into Greece from abroad. Most of the others are at migrant camps and Roma settlements where there have been outbreaks before and they have been re testing people who are in quarantine..........this quarantine is being extended due to a fear for when tourists arrive.
They have been out checking social distancing rules of tables etc in beach bars and making charges. In Mykanos a beach bar playing disco music was totally rammed on the standing area, tables were too close and they got a 20,000€ fine.....not sure if closed down for a period as well. Other places in Athens were also found to be in breach of the rules re distancing and staff not wearing masks.
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maudy
Roda Enthusiast
Posts: 69
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Post by maudy on Jun 9, 2020 10:38:27 GMT 2
It is changing every day and difficult to judge so my son and his family who were first going on June 1st then wisely moved it to July 4th and now to July 29th are still hoping to go , I have my fingers crossed even more for them.
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Post by daveh on Jun 13, 2020 6:04:00 GMT 2
Well there is still no news about letting in tourists from UK...........what I can say is that those who have arrived via Athens or by car have been allowed in (maybe they are saying they are seasonal workers though they are not in reality and going to a resport that has 85% UK visitors who cannot come as yet wont be needed!) and told to self isolate for 7 days. Now most of these own a holiday home here but there are a few who do not and are staying with friends. Sadly from what I hear they are not self isolating at all and if this causes cases that then spread it will affect the possibility for future tourists to come.
The number of cases in Greece has increased daily since the opening of the Boarders. Total now stands at 3108 cases and 183 deaths for the whole of Greece. Of these over 30 cases are arriving tourists or seasonal workers!!
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Post by daveh on Jun 13, 2020 6:10:02 GMT 2
At the moment there are NO passenger flights allowed into Greece at all from UK. This block is expected to be removed on 1st July. Flights to the Islands including Corfu open again on 1st July but as yet it is not known if the UK flights will be to Athens only as there still stands a block on UK tourists. Its a fast moving situation and things can change quickly.......we will get a better idea soon as the Country opens up more from Monday
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Post by daveh on Jun 15, 2020 6:41:52 GMT 2
Today sees the opening of Athens and Thessolonika airports to International flights. They plan to be testing all arrivals for signs of the virus. The Island airports remain closed until 1st July.
Museums re open from today.
Low cases the last few days so totals are now 3121 cases and 183 deaths in Greece.
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Post by daveh on Jun 21, 2020 7:32:21 GMT 2
CAses now 3256 and 190 deaths. Unfortunately there are now number of cases that result from arriving tourists.....9 yesterday alone. This will have an impact if it continues. ANyway talks with UK are under way and it is believed there will be a UK announcement re post holiday quarantine on 29th June.......they have already agreed a deal with Spain and it is thought there will be one with Greece that could allow tourists to come as soon as 4th July (although many flights have already been cancelled past that date).
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Post by daveh on Jun 27, 2020 7:01:21 GMT 2
Hold your horses for the moment...............the UK it seems have agreed to drop the 14 day quarantine on return and it seems Greece is one of the countries they have agreed with. Full announcement due Monday of countries.
Greece meantime have decided due to health reasons they will not open their airports to some countires from 1st July as planned. It also seems they will not be open to UK travellers from 1st July either.
This is not as bad as it sounds as all flights have already been cancelled, airlines have to give 14 days notice to avoid extra costs on cancellations. So we can still expect a date in July to be announced soon.
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Post by daveh on Jun 28, 2020 6:49:11 GMT 2
WHilst direct flights from the UK will not start on 1st July please note this new ruling if you hope to travel here before the end of August................it is expected the UK will open to travel by mid July. This will apply to all travellers and it is therefore important that you get a form and know what requirements are needed for you to complete it. Maybe get a test done as well and have the papers.
All passengers of international flights to Greece will be obliged to fill the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to their check-in, Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in an air safety notice (notam) issued on Saturday, June 27, 2020.
The mandatory completion of the PLF by all passengers of international flights to Greece goes into effect as of today, June 27 and is valid until Monday, August 31, 2020.
“All travelers are required to complete their PLF at least 48 hours before their check-in and provide information about the departure airport, their address, time of stay in Greece and other details as specified with the form, ” CAA said in its statement.
“The passenger identification form (PLF) is a key element in Greece’s planning aiming to protect citizens and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the CAA said.
The Notam is released ahead of the opening of all Greek regional airports on July 1, 2020.
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Post by daveh on Jun 28, 2020 7:06:39 GMT 2
Greece had to cow down to EU majority at yesterdays tourism meeting over who comes into EU from outside as from 1st July. The EU list is much shorter initially that wanted by Greece and though not mandatory Greece were told when they threatened to go it alone and invite others that to do so may mean the EU block travel from Greece within the EU!!!! SO Greece have had to back down and follow the EU line.
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Post by daveh on Jun 30, 2020 8:34:05 GMT 2
No flights from UK to Greece until 15th July at the earliest.
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