Greece Updates Covid-19 Recovery Certificate Rules

Starting today, unvaccinated individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 are allowed entry to all spaces as applies to vaccinated citizens after displaying a recovery certificate issued in the last 90 days.

Health authorities announced that as of today, Covid recovery certificates will be valid for a period of three months (90 days) and not six months which applied until now. If the three-month period has expired, then individuals will be subject to the rules for the unvaccinated.

More specifically, “the Covid-19 recovery certificate is issued only after laboratory testing by PCR method for Covid-19 within thirty (30) days after the first positive test and its validity lasts up to ninety (90) days after”.

According to the new rules, recovery certificates issued between June 13, 2021 and October 31, 2021 following PCR or rapid testing for Covid-19 remain in effect according to previous rules. 

Covid recovery certificates issued between November 1, 2021 to December 4, 2021 via PCR or rapid testing are valid for 90 days, according to the new amendment.

Holders of recovery certificates issued via gov.gr must display these either printed or in digital format upon entry to given spaces.

Holders of three-month recovery certificates will be allowed admission to all activities or shops, restaurants, and closed spaces.

Photo source: diaNEOsis

Unvaccinated individuals must present a negative PCR or rapid test result, to enter banks, public services, restaurants, cafes, bars and entertainment venues.

Additionally, according to the revised rules, starting today, people aged 60 or above who have not received the booster shot (third dose of a vaccine) seven months after the second dose will be considered unvaccinated. While those 60 or over who have not received at least on dose by January 16, 2022 will be subject to a monthly fine of 100 euros.

Meanwhile, speaking to the press on Monday, Government Spokesperson Yiannis Economou ruled out the possibility of new measures before Christmas. Instead, he said, the government is focused on implementing regulations, accelerating vaccination rates and reach, and encouraging self-testing.

“At this stage, we are not considering new measures, whether they concern compulsory vaccinations or restrictions,” he said.

In this direction, he reiterated that as of 5pm on December 18 all adults – vaccinated or not – will be able to get free self-tests using their AMKA number or temporary social security number. 

Currently, some 7.2 million people in Greece have received at least one dose of a vaccine against Covid. In the last 24-hour period, the country reported 3,225 new coronavirus cases and 90 deaths.