Greece Preparing for Possible Covid-19 Cases ‘Entering’ Via Travel

Greek authorities are preparing to be ready for possible Covid-19 cases ‘entering’ the country once tourism opens, according to the government’s spokesman, Stelios Petsas.

“Greece will focus its attention on the possibility of cases occurring on a local level, whether they concern an island or a prefecture,” he said on Thursday during a media briefing.

Petsas said that Greece is increasing testing everywhere and also taking concrete actions to organize the country’s health system in view of increased needs on a regional level, due to the arrival of visitors to tourist destinations.

Greece will begin welcoming tourists from abroad as of Monday, June 15.

The government’s spokesman added that the Health Ministry on Friday will present its emergency strategy, which includes air ambulance services, testing and health infrastructure on the islands, to address possible coronavirus cases.

Moreover, Petsas said that Greece’s epidemiological status remains good, one month after lifting lockdown restrictions and expressed the government’s concern on reported cases of crowding in the country.

“If we let our guard down, we will pay for it. And this will be unfair to everyone, after such an effort,” Petsas stressed.

Covid-19 test samples will be targeted

Following the long weekend of June 6-8, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) said it recorded a spike in coronavirus cases.

On Thursday, 20 new cases were reported, bringing the number of infected people to 3,088 with 692 of the total involving travelers from abroad. The death toll has remained at 183, still among the lowest among EU member-states.

According to Petsas, 16 of the new cases were recorded in Xanthi, northern Greece.

“We are being careful domestically to halt local clusters,” he said while speaking on Thursday evening during the online Delphi Economic Forum.

Petsas said that if flights from abroad “bring” coronavirus cases, the government will see to act fast to stop them from spreading. He also said that Covid-19 test samples will be targeted and not carried out randomly.

Greece was recently ranked among the 100 safest countries in the world for Covid-19