Greece Issues Covid-19 Action Guidelines for Hotel Doctors

As it prepares to welcome tourists on June 15, Greece issued this week a set of guidelines for medical doctors cooperating with hotels on the islands and mainland detailing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the necessary actions in case of a suspected incident.

The National Public Health Organization (EODY) noted that though “at this stage, Greece, based on the epidemiological assessment, is considered a safe tourist destination in relation to other countries”, tourist accommodation facilities may be a source of virus dispersal which can lead to a resurgence of the pandemic.

Besides wearing protective masks, gloves, implementing general hygiene rules, the availability of antiseptic hand wash in public spaces, 1.5 meters or more distancing, EODY recommends the following should a hotel customer or employee display coronavirus symptoms:

-The doctor is called to assess,

– If the patient is in urgent need of hospitalization and presents severe clinical symptoms, transfer will be arranged to nearest health unit,

– If the local health center is unable to manage a Covid-19 case, the patient must be transported by emergency ambulance or air service to the nearest health unit,

– If the patient has mild symptoms, Covid-19 testing is conducted by the physician and the patient remains in the room until further notice; no entry by staff is allowed,

– If the case is assessed as being a Covid-19 infection, the medical doctor notifies the hotel’s health coordinator who informs EODY (1135) and is given further instructions,

– If the test comes out positive for Covid-19, the patient is transferred to a special quarantine hotel (in mild cases) or to a health facility for patients in need of hospitalization,

– If the test comes out negative, the patient will be treated at the hotel by the attending physician and will be responsible for own transport,

– Employees or visitors that have come in contact with Covid-19-infected customers will be required to self-isolate.