Greece Closes Land Borders to Positive Covid-19 Cases

Photo source: EODY

Greek authorities on Friday announced two additional measures in response to high numbers of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases recorded in northern Greece.

According to Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias, as of 6am on Monday, December 7:

– Those who test positive for Covid-19 at Greece’s land borders will be denied entrance to the country, and

– Visits to the monasteries of Mount Athos are not allowed for those who do not live there permanently.

It is reminded that all travelers to Greece through land border points, regardless of nationality, are obliged to undergo a rapid test for Covid-19 by the National Public Health Organization (EODY).

Speaking during Friday’s Covid-19 briefing, the deputy minister said that 86.1 percent of active coronavirus cases are currently detected in five of Greece’s 13 regions, with 66.4 percent in Northern Greece.

Hardalias underlined that the government’s recent decision to extend the lockdown and continue the restrictive measures until – at least – December 14 was based on the latest epidemiological data. Active cases in Greece have reached 16,617 nationwide with 42.3 percent (7,031) in Central Macedonia, 19.7 percent in Attica (3,267), 10.7 percent in Thessaly (1,777), 9.6 percent (1,590) in Eastern Macedonia-Thrace and 3.8 percent (632) in Western Macedonia.

Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias.

The deputy minister stressed that since the same safety measures apply throughout the country, the high numbers detected in northern Greece reveal that they are not being followed there. Should this continue, Hardalias said that the government will be ready to announce additional measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the specific areas.

Greece’s health authorities on Friday announced 1,667 new Covid-19 confirmed cases in the country. Since the start of the pandemic, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Greece has reached 113,185. The death toll is 2,804.