Greece and France Add New Travel Restrictions
Greece is introducing new requirements for international travelers visiting the country. The Greek Health Ministry has just announced changes to its entry requirements which is set to take effect on Sunday, December 19.
Over the past few weeks, the Mediterranean destination has been experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases.
All foreign visitors over the age of 5, regardless of their vaccination status, will need to provide negative results from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours or an antigen test within 24 hours of arrival.
Previously, international travelers with proof of full vaccination were exempted from pre-departure testing requirements. Proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 30 to 180 days was also acceptable. Unvaccinated travelers on the other hand were required to supply either a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before arrival. Now, the rapid antigen test is no longer an option.
France Bans English Visitors
France has also introduced new restrictions which apply to UK travelers. They will be banned from traveling to France for tourism and will instead be required to present a “compelling reason” to enter their southern neighbor.
The new travel restrictions go into effect at midnight on December 17, in response to the Omicron coronavirus variant, CNN reports. The French government quoted the UK government’s recent statement that the UK is facing a “tidal wave” of Omicron cases in the coming days.
French and EU nationals, as well as residents in France, are exempt from the new rule.
But, all those traveling from the UK to France, must also show a negative PCR or lateral flow test taken within 24 hours regardless of vaccination status.
Travelers must also quarantine upon arrival in France for 48 hours, as they await a negative PCR test result.
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I thought vaccination and masks fixed everything?
Weird.