Greece’s Health Ministry announced late on Wednesday that Covid-illness Certificates will expire after three months and not six as it is nowadays.After the expiration, those recovered from Covid-19 will have to receive vaccination or will be considered as “unvaccinated” and will be subjects to the same restrictions.
According to the statement, the Health Ministry said the reduction of the certificate validity from 6 down to 3 months follows a recommendation by the Epidemiologists’ Committee advising the Ministry that met earlier today.
The Ministry added that a relevant Ministerial decision with details will be issued as soon as possible to be followed by a a legislative amendment.
Earlier on Wednesday, when the Committee leaked information, media reported that all Covid-illness certificates issued until 30, October 2021 will expire on 31. January 2022. From the new year on, the certificates will expire in 3 months.
After 3 months, citizens will have one month time to proceed with their vaccination against Covid-19 and obtain the vaccination certificate, so that they can move freely.
In case they are not vaccinated, they will not be able to enter any indoor spaces of restaurants and other entertainment facilities or will need a Rapid test for retail shopping as the same rules will apply as currently for unvaccinated citizens.
According to the legislation in November, citizens can enter only with vaccination certificate or illness certificate the indoor spaces of:
catering (indoor areas)
nightclubs
gyms
theaters
cinemas
museums
exhibitions
conferences
sports stadiums
The measure is also understood as an effort to stop the issue of fake disease certificates based on fake or non-existing Rapid tests, notes healthreport.gr.
It looks as if there is a “mass production” of fake disease certificates in the country obtained by citizens for 200 euros for 6 months. The certificates are authentic only that people have never done a test confirming the disease.
Under the new rules, Covid-illness will be certified only with molecular PCR test.
