Latest Travel Protocol for Greece: Algorithm Allows Smart Covid Testing

As Greece is opening its gates to international tourism on Wednesday, July 1st, strict health protocols and targeted testings will apply to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Twenty-seven airports across the country will receive passengers from 18 non-EU countries, seven ports and seven land border crossings will open to welcome travellers from all over the world, with the exception of a few countries where the number of coronavirus cases remains threateningly high.

The targeted testings will be based on special software that calculates which tourists are more likely to be carriers of Covid-19. The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is a key element for travelling to Greece.

Dimitris Paraskevis, associate professor of Epidemiology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and member of the Committee of Experts dealing with the pandemic, told SKAI television that “the particular algorithm will be able to detect the majority of imported cases.”

The PLF must must be filled out by travelers up to 48 hours before leaving for Greece. It is mandatory from June 27 until August 31, 2020 The travelers will be required to fill out the form on their computer or mobile phone and include important data and details, such as their country of origin, which countries they have to cross before arriving to Greece, and where have they been in the last 15 days.

The passenger information data will be collected in a database and, through analysis, each traveler will receive a special “barcode”, based on which the Greek authorities will know upon arrival whether the passenger should be tested for Covid-19 or not.

The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) can be found here

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection published full details about the health measures that need to be taken by passengers to Greece and protocols for entering the country:

Beginning July 1, 2020, the Greek government has determined how the country will welcome travellers, carry out the necessary diagnostic screening and keep everyone safe throughout the season.

The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is a key element in the planning. All travellers are obliged to complete their PLF at least 48 hours before entering the country, providing detailed information on their point of departure, the duration of previous stays in other countries, and the address of your stay while in Greece.

Protocol for passengers arriving by air

Arrival of passengers at the arrival gate.
Transfer to the area where screening personnel are located and check the unique quick response (QR) code each passenger shows on their mobile phone screen or printed QR form.
Screening personnel direct passengers, depending on their QR code, either to the screening area or to the exit (baggage claim area or passport control). Until the screening results become available, passengers tested for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by a trained health team are obliged to self-isolate at the address of their final destination as declared on their passenger locator form (PLF). Upon completion of the screening, they are directed towards the exit.
All passengers must comply with all of the necessary preventive hygiene measures (use of masks and physical distancing).

Protocol for passengers arriving by sea

Arrival of incoming passengers on foot at the main entry gate.
Incoming passengers arriving in vehicles are directed to the special entry gate.
All passengers are transferred to areas where screening personnel are located and check the unique quick response (QR) code each passenger shows on their mobile phone screen or printed QR form.
Depending on passengers’ QR code, screening personnel either direct them to the screening area or allow them to enter the country. Until the screening results become available, passengers who are tested for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by a trained health team are obliged to self-isolate at the address of their final destination as declared on their passenger locator form (PLF). Upon completion of the screening they are allowed to enter the country.
All passengers must comply with all of the necessary preventive measures (use of masks and physical distancing).

Protocol for arrivals at land borders

Arrival of persons at the checkpoint. All persons entering the country must submit a completed passenger locator form (PLF) upon their arrival.
Passport and customs control are carried out and each incoming person’s unique quick response (QR) code is checked on their mobile phone screen or on the printed form with their QR code.
Depending on their code, incoming persons are directed by security personnel either to the screening area or allowed to continue their trip to their final destination in the country, receiving instructions from the border personnel, concerning, in particular, required action in case they develop symptoms of respiratory infection, in which case they must immediately contact the National Public Health Organization (EODY) Operations Centre. If arriving persons plan to have multiple stop-overs in Greece, they must declare this and report their initial destination and their travel itinerary for the next 7 days. EODY Mobile Health Units (KOMY) will operate round the clock at land border checkpoints.

Until the screening results become available, arriving persons who are tested for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are obliged to self-isolate at the address of their final destination as declared on their passenger locator form (PLF). Their data is entered into the EODY information system, which is linked to the COVID registry to facilitate contact tracing in the event someone tests positive. Upon completion of the screening, they enter the country, receiving instructions concerning self-isolation until the results of their screening are announced.

All passengers must follow all of the necessary preventive hygiene measures (use of masks and physical/social distancing).

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