In the path to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus, Greece starts easing restrictions following strict lockdown which first introduced on November 5.
From Monday, January 18, 2021, retail stores are opening in the country. Retail stores, which are closed since Jan. 3, will operate via the ‘click in shop’ method, while they have recommended the ‘click-away’ shopping system in the areas designated as “red” (epidemiologically burdened areas). Churches will also open on January 24. However there will be some restrictions such as the maximum number of 50 believers in the metropolitan churches will be allowed to enter, Tornos News reports.
Domestic flights, currently operating for essential travel only to protect the public from the pandemic, may continue to Monday, January 25, according to a new Notam issued by the Greek Civil Aviation Service (CAS). The exceptions include Greek national healthcare system flights and related medical flights, emergency, state official, military, cargo, and fire-fighting flights. They also exclude flights for humanitarian reasons and Frontex (EU border service) flights.
Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis announced that both the vaccination certificate, for which a big issue has been raised regarding the protection of personal data, and the rapid tests, which are fast, efficient and cheaper, are two “tools” to open Greece tourism this summer.
On Saturday, the country begins vaccinations of citizens older than 85 years against Covid-19.
237 new coronavirus cases in the 24-hour period ending at 3 p.m. Sunday, along with 28 deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 148,607 confirmed cases of the disease, with 5,469 fatalities, reports ekathimerini.
ALL travelers entering Greece from January 7, 2021, to February 8, 2021, will be required to self-isolate (at their home or temporary residence, for example, hotel) for seven (7) days upon their arrival.
