The Greek government has announced plans to begin lifting
quarantine measures for incoming international travellers this month as it
prepares to welcome tourists in time for the key summer holiday season.
Until 15 June, international flights are only allowed to
land at the country’s Athens airport and all visitors are tested upon arrival
and required to stay overnight at a designated hotel. If their test is
negative, they must self-isolate for seven days, but if they are confirmed to
have coronavirus, they are required to quarantine under supervision for 14
days.
From 15 June until 30 June,passengers arriving from 29 mostly
European countries – Albania, Australia, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria,
Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus,
Latvia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, South
Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Finland
– will only be subject to random coronavirus testing. All travellers
originating from countries outside of this list will have to be tested on
arrival and must stay in a designated hotel overnight. The same self-isolation
and quarantine requirements will apply depending on the outcome of the test.
These measures will apply regardless if a passenger takes a direct flight to
Greece or transits en route, as the requirements will be based on their first
port of departure. In addition, land border arrivals from Albania, North
Macedonia and Bulgaria will be permitted, with visitors subject to random
testing, and Thessaloniki airport will be allowed to accept international flights.
Finally, from 1 July, Greece plans to lift all quarantine
restrictions, with passengers from all destinations being tested at random, and
all airports that can accept international arrivals will be able to do so. Arrivals
by sea will also be allowed to resume. However, the government said additional
restrictions regarding certain countries will be announced at a later date.
Spain will also lift quarantine measures for travellers from 1 July. It is planning to run a coronavirus testing pilot programme with visitors from Germany and some Nordic countries starting in mid-June ahead of the full opening.