Greek Health Body Issues Coronavirus Guidelines to Hotels, Cruise ships & Airlines

Greece’s National Public Health Organization (EODY) issued guidelines to all travel and tourism services providers in efforts to eliminate the potential spread of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has so far infected at least 17,000 people in China, and left 361 dead.

More specifically, should there be a suspected case at a hotel, officials should immediately report the incident to EODY on 210-521-2054 and 210-521-2000 to receive instructions.

The patient is advised to remain in his room with the room door closed and should be given a surgical mask and handkerchiefs.

Hotel staff should be instructed to avoid entering the patient’s room.

Should the need arise only one hotel staff member should deal exclusively with any suspected case.

Protective items used (simple surgical mask, gloves) should be disposed of in a bin and never reused.

Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water after disposing of the protective equipment.

OEDY has also laid out recommendations for airline and cruise ship crews, as well as travelers. It should be noted that airplane or ship officials are required to inform travelers of any suspected cases. Travelers then must report to the health officer if they have been in close contact with the suspected case and/or if they have become/feel ill. Cases will then be recorded and further instruction given.

General recommendations include washing hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub; covering nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow; avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms; and cooking meat and eggs thoroughly.

EODY held an emergency meeting earlier today to decide on further measures. Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias announced that an additional 200 health employees would be hired to meet the demands at labs across Greece, and that a special task force would be set up in the coming days.

So far 29 suspected cases have been tested in Greece, without however identifying the presence of the coronavirus in any of these.