PM: Covid-19 Isolation Rooms Optional for Greek Hotels

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Following the confusion and reactions spurred by an announcement earlier this week that hotels in Greece be required to hold isolation rooms for possible Covid-19 cases, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis clarified that special quarantine hotels would be set up for that purpose.

Speaking during a Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) general assembly on Thursday, Mitsotakis said that hotels to serve as isolation centers (Covid hotels) would be announced in the coming days. The ministry launched an expression of interest earlier this month.

Earlier this week, the health ministry’s announcement triggered the angered response from hoteliers who said the existence of isolation rooms would turn away customers and in the end cause damage to the hospitality sector.

Mitsotakis confirmed on Thursday that Greece would be opening up to tourists on July 1 offering “maximum possible security” and that the designated quarantine hotels would be announced this week.

“Every large [hotel] unit that can and wishes to manage a [Covid-19] incident at its own facilities and safe quarantine room can do so – this will not apply and there is no reason for it to apply to small accommodation units since we have planned for quarantine hotels at all destinations,” Mitsotakis said.

In response to a reluctance of interest on behalf of hoteliers to run quarantine units, the Greek Confederation of Tourist Accommodation Enterprises (SETKE) called on the government to reconsider the size of daily remuneration.

Additionally, hotels – large or small (under 50 rooms) – will not be required to host customers who become infected with Covid-19 and can choose if they wish to maintain an isolation room.

It is reminded that Greece has laid out a far-reaching action plan to ensure the safety of visitors, tourism professionals, and locals, which includes doctors on call, immediate access to health facilities, on-the-spot testing, emergency transport services as well as rigid guidelines with emphasis on popular tourist destinations.

The Greek health ministry also announced that it would be covering the cost of treatment for tourists who test positive for Covid-19 during their visit.