COVID-19 Bump Sees Greece Extend Domestic, International Flights Ban

Society

COVID-19 Bump Sees Greece Extend Domestic, International Flights Ban

February 8, 2021

A passenger wearing a face mask sits outside the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, in Athens on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Greece Virus Outbreak

ATHENS – While hoping for tourists to start coming in the spring, Greece for now pushed back a ban on domestic flights to Feb. 15 and for international flights to Feb. 22 to hold down the spread of COVID-19.

Under the restrictions, passengers flying to Greece must receive a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 72 hours prior to their arrival and undergo random testing and all foreign travellers quarantined for seven days.

Travelers from the hard-hit United Kingdom will – despite a vaccination program there – still be required to take a rapid test upon their arrival, while flights from Turkey remain suspended, the civil aviation authority said, Reuters reported.

Most flights from non-European Union countries including the nearly-isolated United States are prohibited, with the exception of 10 countries including the UK.

On domestic flights, only essential travel is permitted. A second wave of the Coronavirus brought the total cases to 163,213 as of Feb. 7 and 5,951 deaths, almost a year after the pandemic began in earnest.

General News

Greek-American James A. Koshivos, 21, Killed after Car Plunged into Ocean

FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.

General News

Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year

NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.

General News

The Evzones Set to Participate in the Philadelphia Greek Parade March 20

PHILADELPHIA – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley announced that the Evzones, the Presidential Guard of Greece will be participating in the Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade on March 20.