Greece COVID Restrictions – No matter which part of the world you are living in, every country in the world is struggling with the spread of COVID-19 starting in November 2019. A few years back, the health department of European countries was known to be the best in the world, but COVID 19 has shown that every country is equal when it comes to the safety of the general public during pandemics.
Whether it’s Italy, France, or Greece, the whole of Europe has struggled with the spread of COVID-19. You can see the effects of COVID by comparing the number of travelers who visited these countries pre the COVID era and during COVID.
You will see a clear decline in the number of travelers visiting these European countries, and these countries earn a huge chunk of their budget from travelers.
Open Travel
As per the general secretary of the Greek national tourism organization, Greece is an open country, and we do not have any restrictions anymore. All the restrictions of COVID belong to the past now, and we are seeing a bright future.
He further mentioned that people don’t know this yet, but there was some confusion. From now on, Greece is an open country, and there are no restrictions in the country other than wearing masks in internal areas.
The country has uplifted any COVID restriction when it comes to travel. As of first May, People can freely enter the country without showing any proof of COVID vaccination or recovery from the COVID.
Even though you have to wear a mask in indoor settings, there are no restrictions on movement in the country. Greece is following other European countries that have just opened to the world and are accepting tourism.
General Greece COVID Restrictions
Greece is opening to the world, and after 1st may, the country has uplifted any COVID restriction other than wearing masks in internal areas.
As for the local authorities, there are very few restrictions left in Greece, and you do not have to show any proof of COVID vaccination or recovery to enter the country.
As of first May, The local authorities have Uplifted every domestic COVID measure. It means people can access cafes, bars, restaurants, and other public places without showing any negative PCR test reports or proof of vaccination in the country.
There is just one restriction left in Greece related to COVID. You have to wear a mask in indoor settings. As per the Greece authorities, tourism accounts for 25% of the total GDP of Greece. The COVID restrictions for more than two years have been impacting the country, And now it is time for us to look ahead.
Current Situation of COVID in the Country
A lot of people from the United States and around the world have been thinking of visiting Greece during summer as the COVID restrictions in the country have been lifted.
From the first of May, you do not have to show any certificate of vaccination or proof of recovery to enter the country. Apart from that, the local authorities have also allowed everyone to sit in cafes, bars, and other indoor places without negative PCR test reports or proof of vaccination.
Even during the pre-COVID era, tourism in Greece was at its peak, and it also contributed around 25% to the GDP. No wonder people are going to visit the beautiful country in the upcoming summer.
The infection rate in the country is still high, but it is sliding every week. The country is far away from its early January peak as the oh omicron variant took hold.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed Greece on its highest risk list. It means that the US CDC is suggesting every citizen not travel in the country. It is just an advisory, and we don’t think people are going to take it seriously.
The total population of Greece is around 10 million, and it has already seen 3.3 million COVID cases and 29,000 deaths as of the first week of May. The authorities have fully vaccinated around 73% of the total population.
Other European Countries
Similar to Greece, other European countries have also opened up their doors to travelers. At the same time, they are also uplifting their COVID restrictions.
Along with Greece, two other European countries have also uplifted their COVID-19 rules, and everyone is permitted to restrict free entry in Bulgaria and Lithuania.
In the last few weeks, 15 European countries which come under the Schengen area have already uplifted their entry rules in the country.
Apart from Greece, Bulgaria, and Lithuania, other European countries like Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland have already allowed restriction-free entry to all the travelers.
These countries have also lifted their general COVID restrictions in the country so that travelers can enjoy restriction-free movement in their country. A lot of these countries depend on traveling, and as per one data, around 30 million Europeans directly depend on traveling.
Takeaways
European countries have been opening their gates for all travelers and restricting free movement in their countries. A few days back, the general secretary of the Greek national tourism authority, during its visit to Dubai, said that Greece is now open to every traveler in the world.
They have uplifted all the COVID-related restrictions. As of 1st may 2022, you will not require any proof of vaccination or certificate of recovery to enter Greece and move freely.
The local authorities have also made sure that travelers do not face any difficulty in Greece, and they have uplifted all domestic COVID restrictions apart from necessary masks while indoors.
Not just Greece, but most of the European countries have been opening their gates to all the travelers. Now you can travel freely in more than 15 countries under the Schengen area.
Can we have dinner in a restaurant in Greece without showing proof of vaccination?
Yes, you can have dinner or any other meal in a restaurant without showing any proof of vaccination or certificate of recovery. Local authorities have uplifted every COVID-related restriction from the first of May everyone is free to travel in Greece.