Greece: Authorities extend nationwide lockdown until December 7 /update 41

Event

On Thursday, November 26, a government spokesperson announced that the current nationwide lockdown in place to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be extended until December 7. The measures were introduced on November 7 and were originally in place until Monday, November 30. Under the measures grocery shopping and exercise in groups of up to two are among the few reasons that people can leave home; however, prior to leaving the house for essential reasons, individuals must obtain approval using the government SMS system on 13033 or have a certificate from their employer. High schools have switched to distance learning during the lockdown and nonessential businesses must close, including retail stores, bars, restaurants, museums, entertainment venues, and gyms. The use of face masks both indoors and outside remains mandatory. A nighttime curfew between 21:00 and 05:00 (local time) nationwide was also introduced on Friday, November 13. During these hours movement will only be permitted for work, health reasons, or to walk pets close to home.

Greece also introduced tougher restrictions on some of its northern land borders from November 20. The land border with neighboring Albania, Krystallopigi entry point, is closed and only trucks are permitted to pass through the Nymfeas crossing (the border crossing with Bulgaria). The Kakavia, Evzoni, and Promachonas border crossings remain open. Those entering the country through border crossings will be required to undergo a rapid test for COVID-19 organized by the National Public Health Organization (EODY). Only those who test negative will be permitted to enter the country. Authorities will also reportedly step up checks on businesses and citizens in northern areas to ensure lockdown measures in place are being followed. Travelers arriving through Greece's other entry points remain obliged to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) prior to their trip. They must also present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test, performed up to 72 hours before arrival.

As of November 26, there have been 99,306 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Greece with 2001 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be 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). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

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

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

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: