Covid-19: Greece Announces Rules for Entry from Albanian Border

Kakavia border crossing between southern Albania and northwestern Greece. Photo source: makthes.gr

As of August 16, all travelers from Albania entering Greece through the Kakavia border crossing will be obliged to self-isolate (quarantine) for seven days.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias during a televised briefing, following a recent spike in coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Greece.

According to Hardalias, checks will be made to travelers during the self-isolation period at the addresses they have stated on their PLF forms before entering Greece.

Moreover, he announced that as of August 5, entrance through the Kakavia border station will be prohibited daily from 11pm to 7am in order for the government to achieve more targeted checks during the day.

The deputy minister said that as of Monday, a permanent check point will operate at the border station where health executives of the Armed Forces and EODY will provide sample Covid-19 tests.

“We knew that with the opening of the country’s borders we would have more cases,” Hardalias said, adding that authorities have taken measures at entry points that includes sample testing with the special algorithm EVA and PLF entry forms.

“Where deemed necessary, we closed the gates to tourism without considering the financial consequences but caring for the public health,” he said.

According to Hardalias, from July 1 until August 2, a total of 215,184 sample tests were carried out at all of the country’s entry points, out of a total of 1,702,980 arrivals, with confirmed incoming cases reaching 401.

“Of these, 77 are still active, 240 have returned to their country of origin, 84 are now inactive and remain in our country,” he said.

Hardalias underlined that the government continues to review epidemiological data and adapt the country’s measures.

“Thus, Greece managed to control the imported cases with the measures it successively took,” he said.

The deputy minister added that the main source of concern for the spread of Covid-19 in the community are the land border crossings through which expatriates and Greeks with residence permits enter, and the overcrowding that has been noticed at social events, bars and clubs and in means of transport.

“Complacency has led to an increase in cases in many regions of the country but mainly in urban centers,” Hardalias stressed and called for all citizens to follow the measures against Covid-19.

Moreover, the deputy minister slammed “unorthodox and conspiracy theories” concerning the coronavirus that have circulated online and aim to undermine social responsibility and the government’s efforts against the pandemic.