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Covid-19: Greece Cancels Thessaloniki Fair, Sets Curfew for Bars in Popular Destinations
Posted On 10 Aug 2020
The Thessaloniki International Fair.
The Greek government on Monday decided to impose a series of new measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), following an alarming surge in confirmed cases.
Greece on Sunday saw a record of 203 new coronavirus infections (29 cases were “imported” from travelers abroad), raising the total number to 5,623. The death toll in the country stands at 212.
Announced by the government’s alternate spokesperson Aristotelia Pelonias, the new measures include the cancelation of the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), mandatory COVID-19 testing for travelers from certain countries at least 72 hours before they arrive in Greece and the setting of a curfew for the late-night bar scene at some of the country’s destinations.
The measures were decided during a teleconference chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and attended by ministers, and the Covid-19 health committee.
New Measures
– The 85th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which was scheduled for September 5-13, has been canceled. The Greek PM will be present in Thessaloniki to give his traditional annual speech on September 5 to a limited audience.
– As of August 17, all travelers from Sweden, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands will be obliged to present a negative molecular test for COVID-19 (conducted no more than 72 hours before travel) to authorities upon arrival.
– As of August 17, all travelers entering Greece’s land borders – including Greek citizens and those with residence permits – must present a negative molecular test for COVID-19 conducted no more than 72 hours prior. The test must have been performed in the country of origin and not in Greece.
– As of August 16, only 750 people per day will be allowed to cross the Kakavia border station, Greece’s entry point with Albania.
– All public events in which participants stand, including concerts and performances, are suspended throughout the country.
– From August 11 to August 23, all bars and clubs in the following Greek regions and municipalities are not allowed to operate between the hours of 12 midnight and 7am:
– The regions of Crete, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
– The regional units of Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Larissa and Corfu
– The municipalities of Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Volos, Katerini, Rhodes, Antiparos, Zakynthos and Kos
The ban may be extended to other areas, depending on the course of the epidemiological data.
Thank you for the information!
I’m from Spain and my wife is from Romania and we both live in Belgium and have only been in Belgium since months.
We have a flight from Germany to Heraklion on the 15th of August. According to this information, we’re not affected by the new measures (providing a negative PCR test) since:
1. We’re flying from Germany and not from Belgium.
2. We’re flying before the 17th of August.
Would you be so kind to confirm our assumptions, please?
Thank you very much!
How does closing a bar two hours early stop virus spread.
Many bars are subject to midnight noise curfews when all patrons have to go inside, and the doors and windows have to be shut. Ideal conditions for the virus to be spread.