Greece in turn is tightening the entry conditions for tourists to its territory.
The Hellenic Republic announced on Wednesday that, from December 19,
"all travelers"
will have to have a negative 48-hour PCR virological test.
"
As part of the efforts to stem the
Covid-19
pandemic
, our country will welcome visitors from all countries with a negative 48-hour PCR virological test
," said a statement from the Ministry of Health.
"
Travelers who have stayed in foreign countries less than 48 hours are exempt from this obligation,
" said this text, stressing that the new measure will be valid from Sunday at 6 a.m. local time.
Read also Travel to Greece and Covid-19: form, health pass, PCR tests ... What awaits tourists
Until now, travelers could travel to Greece with a European health pass or other attesting to a complete vaccination schedule, recent recovery or a negative virological test of less than 72 hours or antigen of less than 48 hours.
These new measures, valid from December 19 to January 31, come as Europe faces a new wave of Covid-19, marked by a rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Other European countries also require a negative PCR test from all travelers who arrive on their soil, even if they are vaccinated.
This is the case for Portugal since December 1 and Italy from this Thursday December 16.
Read also Greece: six reasons to discover the island of Aegina, near Athens
Greece (10.7 million inhabitants) deplores dozens of deaths from Covid-19 daily.
On Wednesday, health authorities announced 77 deaths in the last 24 hours and 4,801 cases of infections.
The country has so far recorded more than a million Covid-19 infections and 19,553 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
