Coronavirus and Greece

Hot off the Greek press......

Latest NEWS:
The prime minister announced that the tourism season will officially begin on June 15 and international flights on July 1. (Health officials will conduct sample coronavirus tests at the airport.)

Just waiting to hear about Sailing.....
 
Update after the ministers speeches.

25 May - Free movement to islands.
25 May - Yachting open.
29 May - Camping, Annual Town Hotels
15 Jun - Tourist season starts
15 Jun - All other accommodation opens
15 Jun - Normal international flights to ATHens from countries with good health criteria.
01 Jul - Normal international flights to other airports including from other countries except those with bad heath criteria.
15 Jul - Gradual removal of ban of other countries.

No mandatory quarantine and testing. Only sampling testing at arrival gates.
List of countries will be advised end of May

Όλα τα μέτρα που ανακοίνωσε η κυβέρνηση: Τι ισχύει για ΦΠΑ, επιδόματα, εργασία, ενοίκια, φορολογία
 
wwalsh said:
Update after the ministers speeches.

25 May - Free movement to islands.
25 May - Yachting open.
29 May - Camping, Annual Town Hotels
15 Jun - Tourist season starts
15 Jun - All other accommodation opens
15 Jun - Normal international flights to ATHens from countries with good health criteria.
01 Jul - Normal international flights to other airports including from other countries except those with bad heath criteria.
15 Jul - Gradual removal of ban of other countries.

No mandatory quarantine and testing. Only sampling testing at arrival gates.
List of countries will be advised end of May

Όλα τα μέτρα που ανακοίνωσε η κυβέρνηση: Τι ισχύει για ΦΠΑ, επιδόματα, εργασία, ενοίκια, φορολογία
Click to expand...
One slight problem though. The Greeks are saying to the UK they want reciprocal rights for their citizens to the UK. They have NOT said though that, it is contingent on us giving them reciprocal rights.

I might book easy jet for start of September whilst its cheap - well £100 to Athens.
OR
We might just Drive out in the motor homes - Munich, Vienna, budapest Slovenia and Northern Macedonia..... and make a real trip of it, as flying might be a bit of a pain with what ever the new rules and checks will be.!
 
Minoan are now taking international bookings from Venice/Ancona to Igoumenitsa/Patras, we are booked on for the third week in June.
We are planning to isolate for fourteen days whether the criteria's say so or not as a matter of course.
I will inform if there are any problems with the trip.
 
Just an update on Greek relaxing issue on 18 May. We have been fined for EUR 5,000 each (Total EUR 10,000) for sailing according to new law. It is strange they allow less than 12 meters yachts to daysail but still fining for quarantine breaking. It has happened 18 May just south of Lefkas canal intercepted by Lefkas coastguard while at sea. By looking at the law it is allowed but by Lefkas coastguard thinks differently. We are currently at Vliho bay. Others at the bay afraid of moving for filling their water tanks. I think we will clear off Greece once this thing is over. Stay safe from coastguard and make sure there are many boats sailing around before lifting your anchor, don't mind what law says. (Possibly another month or so)
 
Safir_Sailing said:
Just an update on Greek relaxing issue on 18 May. We have been fined for EUR 5,000 each (Total EUR 10,000) for sailing according to new law. It is strange they allow less than 12 meters yachts to daysail but still fining for quarantine breaking. It has happened 18 May just south of Lefkas canal intercepted by Lefkas coastguard while at sea. By looking at the law it is allowed but by Lefkas coastguard thinks differently. We are currently at Vliho bay. Others at the bay afraid of moving for filling their water tanks. I think we will clear off Greece once this thing is over. Stay safe from coastguard and make sure there are many boats sailing around before lifting your anchor, don't mind what law says. (Possibly another month or so)
Click to expand...

Where exactly did you read that you can cruise around the Greek islands? This is still prohibited - read the current measures that apply in post #288 above.

Vessels up to 12m in length may be used for fishing or swimming (leisure) purposes provided that the trip is restricted within the region of launch/berth and no island (even within the same region) is visited during the trip. Passengers number should be limited to 50% of the total permitted number on board.

Before start blaiming others make sure it is not your fault.
 
Lazy Traveller said:
Where exactly did you read that you can cruise around the Greek islands? This is still prohibited - read the current measures that apply in post #288 above.

Vessels up to 12m in length may be used for fishing or swimming (leisure) purposes provided that the trip is restricted within the region of launch/berth and no island (even within the same region) is visited during the trip. Passengers number should be limited to 50% of the total permitted number on board.

Before start blaiming others make sure it is not your fault.
Click to expand...

Well, I wasn't sailed to island. As written I have intercepted at sea, not port or island. I have red the following before going little day trip. All below were followed. Maybe it was my fault. I should sit tight and wait for everyone else move before me?

“f) carrying out amateur fishing and taking a sea bath exclusively by private boats with a total length of up to twelve (12) meters under the following conditions:
i. of non-approach to an island of the same or another Region of the port of departure and without stay during the night,
ii. of the transfer of fifty percent (50%) of the maximum number of passengers permitted and
iii. of keeping a minimum distance of two (2) meters between the occupants of them.”
 
Like yourself, I was planning on going out from Gouvia marina, into the bay for some sailing, last Monday the 18th.
I was fully aware of the conditions, and as well as complying with all of it, my boat is under the 12m cut-off, I thought I would have been ok to go out.
I popped over to the PortPolice/Customs guys on the marina and asked If I was ok to go out, for a few hours.
Eventually No, they said, somewhat vaguely and not entirely convincingly.
Anyways, I stayed in.
Glad I did,
 
I have appealed against EUR 5,000 fine. I cannot find any reference to 5000 EUR figure. They handed out a photocopy paper with EUR 5,000 written on it. But their reference (Joint Ministerial Decision No. Δ1 α / Γ.Π οικ 20036/2020) is EUR 150 for movement ban. Anyone knows better than me? Maybe it is scare tactics to keep us in? Back of the handed paper is below. Front side refers to 17.05.2020 dated 1871 B law which is translated as:

Article Only
1. From Monday 18 May 2020 at 06:00 and until Monday 25 May 2020 at 06:00, it is prohibited, within the Greek Territory, the departure and arrival of any type of amateur boat, private pleasure boats and professional tourist boats. ships regardless of flag, for precautionary public health reasons, as reported in the 15.5.2020 recommendation of the National Commission for the Protection of Public Health against the corona COVID-19.
2. During the period of par. 1, the said vessels and vessels may be moved in the following cases:
(a) emergency and force majeure related to mechanical damage, damage, anarchy and other related matters related to the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment,
b) formulations and test voyages, in accordance with the provisions in force and the orders of the relevant Port Authorities,
c) supply of ships and boats with fuel, water and supplies,
d) furniture in / from shipyards for repair and execution of other related works. After the completion of the above works, it is allowed to sail for individual voids of passengers, either to the port of mooring of the ship or to another port of desire of this Master.
e) service exclusively for the purposes related to the security of critical energy infrastructures of the country. This case concerns exclusively the commercial pleasure boats of law 4256/2014 (A '92) and
f) carrying out amateur fishing and taking a sea bath exclusively by private boats with a total length of up to twelve (12) meters under the following conditions:
i. of non-approach to an island of the same or another Region of the port of departure and without stay during the night,
ii.of the transfer of fifty percent (50%) of the maximum number of passengers permitted and
iii. of keeping a minimum distance of two (2) meters between the occupants of them.

Fine Back Side.JPG
 
On May 18, in the Saronic Gulf outside Athens, too many boats went to sea without being fined. But the boats that were in quarantine of course and did not go out for sailing. I want to say that we do not know the reason for the fine that PP wrote on paper
 
You'll see I've commented elsewhere on here that other yachts seems to have 'got away with it'. I suggest that anyone wanting a day sail around their local area contact the local port authority and ask them whether what you plan to do is allowed under their interpretation of the rules.
 
Safir_Sailing said:
I have appealed against EUR 5,000 fine. I cannot find any reference to 5000 EUR figure. They handed out a photocopy paper with EUR 5,000 written on it. But their reference (Joint Ministerial Decision No. Δ1 α / Γ.Π οικ 20036/2020) is EUR 150 for movement ban. Anyone knows better than me? Maybe it is scare tactics to keep us in? Back of the handed paper is below. Front side refers to 17.05.2020 dated 1871 B law which is translated as:

Article Only
1. From Monday 18 May 2020 at 06:00 and until Monday 25 May 2020 at 06:00, it is prohibited, within the Greek Territory, the departure and arrival of any type of amateur boat, private pleasure boats and professional tourist boats. ships regardless of flag, for precautionary public health reasons, as reported in the 15.5.2020 recommendation of the National Commission for the Protection of Public Health against the corona COVID-19.
2. During the period of par. 1, the said vessels and vessels may be moved in the following cases:
(a) emergency and force majeure related to mechanical damage, damage, anarchy and other related matters related to the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment,
b) formulations and test voyages, in accordance with the provisions in force and the orders of the relevant Port Authorities,
c) supply of ships and boats with fuel, water and supplies,
d) furniture in / from shipyards for repair and execution of other related works. After the completion of the above works, it is allowed to sail for individual voids of passengers, either to the port of mooring of the ship or to another port of desire of this Master.
e) service exclusively for the purposes related to the security of critical energy infrastructures of the country. This case concerns exclusively the commercial pleasure boats of law 4256/2014 (A '92) and
f) carrying out amateur fishing and taking a sea bath exclusively by private boats with a total length of up to twelve (12) meters under the following conditions:
i. of non-approach to an island of the same or another Region of the port of departure and without stay during the night,
ii.of the transfer of fifty percent (50%) of the maximum number of passengers permitted and
iii. of keeping a minimum distance of two (2) meters between the occupants of them.

View attachment 90754
Click to expand...
Euro 5000, is the fine for breaking the lock down rules. I dont know what you were doing, but if you were passaging from one area to another, I can understand that they might take this view. However, I dont know what you were doing, so I couldn't comment,
 
Tony Cross said:
It has always been thus in Greece.
Click to expand...

True. but implementing such a high fine...
Well, we can say it is the law, but seriously?!

I’ll wait till end of June to read first reports on how things are looking in real life.
If there will be restrictions in tavernas, then I’ll pass.
Vic, we can meet in Croatia:)
 
alexsailor said:
True. but implementing such a high fine...
Well, we can say it is the law, but seriously?!

I’ll wait till end of June to read first reports on how things are looking in real life.
If there will be restrictions in tavernas, then I’ll pass.
Vic, we can meet in Croatia:)
Click to expand...
The law and the sanctions are there precisely to stop people breaking the rules - this is not a game of tiddlywinks....

I still think Greece is worth it despite irrational officials....
 
Chris_Robb said:
One slight problem though. The Greeks are saying to the UK they want reciprocal rights for their citizens to the UK. They have NOT said though that, it is contingent on us giving them reciprocal rights.

I might book easy jet for start of September whilst its cheap - well £100 to Athens.
OR
We might just Drive out in the motor homes - Munich, Vienna, budapest Slovenia and Northern Macedonia..... and make a real trip of it, as flying might be a bit of a pain with what ever the new rules and checks will be.!
Click to expand...


Here is the latest info I've received for air and ferry travel but with nothing set in stone yet, countries may be added in due course, and would you believe China is on the list to be allowed in? :unsure:

Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis announced on Wednesday 20 May:
(I’ve seen some reports in English, but not with the same amount of detail.
Google translate is often difficult to make sense of, but in this case it does read
well.)
******In two stages, the opening of tourism from abroad will take place, starting
from Monday, June 15, with the release of flights to El. Venizelos, while from July
1 it will be the second stage with the release of flights to all airports. Domestic
tourism "opens" earlier, on Monday, May 25.
The schedule of the opening of the tourist market presented by the minister Haris
Theocharis is as follows:
Monday, May 25: Yachting opens, which is the safest tourist activity
Monday, June 1: Camps, campsites and 12-month hotels open
Monday, June 15: All other accommodation is open. At the same time, the first
stage of the release of the flights is activated, initially only by "El. Venizelos"
Wednesday, July 1: Second stage of the release of flights at all airports in the
country.
July 15: Gradual removal of the remaining exceptions
As Mr. Theocharis pointed out, the release of the flights means that there is no
mandatory test for a corona in the passengers, nor a mandatory quarantine. This
does not preclude, he explained, some sampling tests for epidemiological
purposes.
The first stage of release is scheduled for June 15:
• Release of flights from abroad to "Eleftherios Venizelos"
• Release of visitors from countries with good epidemiological characteristics
In addition, criteria such as road access, medium distance by air, expatriate
communities are evaluated
The second stage of release is scheduled for July 1
• Release of flights from abroad to all airports
• Release of visitors from all countries
• Countries with negative epidemiological characteristics will be excluded
• Countries that are excluded will be announced in a timely manner

• Countries excluded from the 2nd stage of release will be monitored for their
epidemiological characteristics
Mr. Theocharis stated that health protocols will be implemented for the operation
of tourist accommodation, tourist buses, the operation of car rental companies,
maritime transport on passenger / passenger - ferry ferries, air transport, air
transport, within the aircraft. (terminal) and the control at the entrance gates (eg
questionnaire, test samples)
The first 19 countries that Greece will allow tourists to come from (that have
“good” epidemiological data) have been announced and are:
Cyprus
Israel
China
Japan
Australia
Norway
Denmark
Austria
Bulgaria
Serbia
Romania
Albania
North Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovia
Croatia
Poland
Hungary
Slovakia
Czech Republic

He said that the lists of the countries to be exempted (and allowed entry) will be
ready by the end of May.
Ferrytravel
Travel to Greek islands by ferry is allowed from May 25, 2020, Head of Civil
Protection, Nikos Hardalias announced on Tuesday evening during the daily briefing
on the course of the coronavirus in the country. But travel to the islands is not the
same as the years before. Passengers’ will be checked on temperature and will
have to fill up questionnaires that will hand out to the crew before allowed
onboard.
The same procedures are to be followed also on the ferry lines between Greece
and Italy.
According to the Greek Shipping Ministry, the questionnaires are mandatory for
every travel by ship or ferry that lasts longer than 30 minutes.
 
it is strange that Slovenia is not on the list. last week we declared end of epidemic... Corona virus is not a health issue, it is a political one...
 
grumpygit said:
Here is the latest info I've received for air and ferry travel but with nothing set in stone yet, countries may be added in due course, and would you believe China is on the list to be allowed in? :unsure:

Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis announced on Wednesday 20 May:
(I’ve seen some reports in English, but not with the same amount of detail.
Google translate is often difficult to make sense of, but in this case it does read
well.)
******In two stages, the opening of tourism from abroad will take place, starting
from Monday, June 15, with the release of flights to El. Venizelos, while from July
1 it will be the second stage with the release of flights to all airports. Domestic
tourism "opens" earlier, on Monday, May 25.
The schedule of the opening of the tourist market presented by the minister Haris
Theocharis is as follows:
Monday, May 25: Yachting opens, which is the safest tourist activity
Monday, June 1: Camps, campsites and 12-month hotels open
Monday, June 15: All other accommodation is open. At the same time, the first
stage of the release of the flights is activated, initially only by "El. Venizelos"
Wednesday, July 1: Second stage of the release of flights at all airports in the
country.
July 15: Gradual removal of the remaining exceptions
As Mr. Theocharis pointed out, the release of the flights means that there is no
mandatory test for a corona in the passengers, nor a mandatory quarantine. This
does not preclude, he explained, some sampling tests for epidemiological
purposes.
The first stage of release is scheduled for June 15:
• Release of flights from abroad to "Eleftherios Venizelos"
• Release of visitors from countries with good epidemiological characteristics
In addition, criteria such as road access, medium distance by air, expatriate
communities are evaluated
The second stage of release is scheduled for July 1
• Release of flights from abroad to all airports
• Release of visitors from all countries
• Countries with negative epidemiological characteristics will be excluded
• Countries that are excluded will be announced in a timely manner

• Countries excluded from the 2nd stage of release will be monitored for their
epidemiological characteristics
Mr. Theocharis stated that health protocols will be implemented for the operation
of tourist accommodation, tourist buses, the operation of car rental companies,
maritime transport on passenger / passenger - ferry ferries, air transport, air
transport, within the aircraft. (terminal) and the control at the entrance gates (eg
questionnaire, test samples)
The first 19 countries that Greece will allow tourists to come from (that have
“good” epidemiological data) have been announced and are:
Cyprus
Israel
China
Japan
Australia
Norway
Denmark
Austria
Bulgaria
Serbia
Romania
Albania
North Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovia
Croatia
Poland
Hungary
Slovakia
Czech Republic

He said that the lists of the countries to be exempted (and allowed entry) will be
ready by the end of May.
Ferrytravel
Travel to Greek islands by ferry is allowed from May 25, 2020, Head of Civil
Protection, Nikos Hardalias announced on Tuesday evening during the daily briefing
on the course of the coronavirus in the country. But travel to the islands is not the
same as the years before. Passengers’ will be checked on temperature and will
have to fill up questionnaires that will hand out to the crew before allowed
onboard.
The same procedures are to be followed also on the ferry lines between Greece
and Italy.
According to the Greek Shipping Ministry, the questionnaires are mandatory for
every travel by ship or ferry that lasts longer than 30 minutes.
Click to expand...
Strange thing is that Transavia has confirmed flights from Amsterdam to Athens starting June 5th even though the Netherlands is not on any reported safe country list ?. Although I'm chomping at the bit to go, I decided to wait until the end of the month before booking a flight.

BTW you can find the health form that will be used for Ferries here
 
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