Greece: Authorities bar entry to Serbian nationals from July 6 /update 26

Event

The Greek government has announced that Serbian nationals will be barred from entering Greece from 06:00 (local time) on Monday, July 6, due to a recent increase in detected cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) there. The ban will remain in place until July 15 unless it is extended, with those entering Greece for professional purposes being exempt.

Greek authorities announced the reopening of the country's borders on July 2 following the easing of some COVID-19 restrictions. However, travelers entering the country must complete an Online Passenger Locator Form (PLF) at least 48 hours before arriving which can be found here. Travelers may also be subject to additional health screening and a 14-day quarantine period.

New health and hygiene measures have been implemented for air, road, train, and sea travel in Greece. Face masks have been made mandatory for all passengers while traveling and social distancing measures remain in place.

As of Sunday, July 5, health authorities have confirmed 3519 COVID-19 cases with 192 associated deaths in the country. Further spread of the virus is expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.