Greece changes the scheme of COVID-19 testing on foreign travelers arriving in the country. Random testing according to “green” and “red” countries is over, targeted testing is in. Travelers will receive the barcode after they have filled out the Passenger Locator Form. They will show the barcode on printed form or on their mobile phones upon their arrival in the country’s airports. An algorithm that will calculate which travelers are most likely to be carriers of the coronavirus.
According to Dimitris Paraskevis, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at EKPA and member of the Committee of Experts at the Greek Health Ministry, “with this algorithm procedure it is most likely to be able to detect the majority of imported cases.”
The algorithm will use the barcode passengers on international flights will receive before they arrive in Greece and after filling the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) 48-hours prior to their departure
The Greek Civil Aviation Authority issued a NOTAM on Saturday, according to which flight passengers will have to fill out a form on their PC or other device with personal and travel details, such as their country of origin and to which countries they have been in the last 15 days.
This information will be gathered in a database and, through its analysis, each traveler will receive a special “barcode”, based on which the Greek authorities will know upon arrival whether the passenger should be tested to COVID-19 or not.
“The tests per entrance gate will be divided according to the risk that will be assessed per passenger. For example, if we have 1,000 tests per day at Athens international airport Eleftherios Venizelos, these 1,000 tests will be done in such a way as to maximize the ability to detect positive cases per day and per gateway, ” Paraskevis told Skai TV on Sunday.
Filling out the PLF form is mandatory from June 27 until August 31, 2020.
Starting July 1, Greece opens 27 airports for flights from abroad: 20 major ones, including Heraklion, Chania, Corfu, Rhodes and Mykonos, as well as seven smaller ones in Ioannina, Sitia, Lemnos, Kythira, Skyros, Paros and Chios.
Also on Wednesday, July 1, the ports of Patras and Igoumenitsa will start accepting ferries from Italy, while the ports in Piraeus, Rhodes, Corfu, Volos and Katakolo will be open for cruising, even though no trips have been planned so far.
With regards to the border-crossings, Evzones will open on July 1 in addition to Promachonas. the land border. The opening of Krystallopigi, Nymfaio, Kastanies and Kipoi, that is to North Macedonia and Turkey, is currently under negotiations.
As for the border-crossing Kakavia to Albania, Head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias said on Friday that it is not expected to open soon.
Hi,
Can anyone help answer a question please.
If your original staying point us from a save country (new Zealand) but you have a 3 hour transit in an airoort of not safe country (Qatar) – what will this mean??
Does the term ” departure” mean original starting pointbor most recent flight departure??
Hi,
I have a similar question. I come to Greece from France by taking the Adriatic line and therefore crossing Italy. Should I indicate Italy in the application?
Thank you for updating. In a German online publication for the tourist industry it does not mention that this applies to arrivals by plane only? But it states that this will be the norm for entering Greece in general?
Having filled out the form and received an automatic acknowledgment how long before you receive the barcode will it be sent 48 hours before departure or before that.
First off, I would like to thank you for choosing Greece for your vacations.
Secondly, I’d like to …
thanks but if authorities do care about their tourists they should issue/send an official statement and send it to this site.
I filled in and submitted the form Sunday morning and received the acknowledgement email, but am still waiting to receive the QR code some 30 hours later. Does anybody know when the code will be issued (eg 48 hours before your planned arrival or ……)?
We are flying today, 29th, and our QR code was sent at 10pm on 28th.
all very sensible. well done
I have a question…i;m arriving from my home in Madrid to athens airport, staying the night near the port and then taking an early ferry the next morning to Milos for 14 days. I’ve used the address of the hotel in Milos on the form, is that the correct way of doing things. i;ve barely been out of my house since the state of emergency was imposded in spain and have had almost zero contact with anyone
Coming from UK – what’s the rules regarding Covid testing spot checks? If someone is tested postive on the plane, does the whole plane have to isolate for 14 days? Does anyone know
Me and my 2 sons are going to Rhodes. When I filled in the form initially it said to put under 18’s on my form and my 19 year old separate. Now it says one form per family. I also filled in a previous form incorrectly so did it again. I’m worried that they won’t be accepted. Can anyone give some guidance please.