ATHENS – Signs that COVID-19 has mutated into a new strain in the United Kingdom has led Greece to require arriving travelers from there to undergo a seven-day quarantine, which would affect Greeks visiting or returning home for the holidays.

That was announced by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection which said arrivals from others continue to face a 3-day quarantine and as some European Union countries said they will bar UK arrivals for now.

Existing measures affecting all international arrivals include a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test administered less than 72 hours from arrival and a rapid test upon arrival.

Greece is in the midst of a second lockdown that’s not due to be lifted until at least Jan. 7, 2021 depending on epidemiological data and if the number of cases can be held down to alleviate pressure on the public hospitals.