ATHENS – It's not being made mandatory, but travelers returning from Greek islands were recommended to do self-tests for COVID-19 as cases have soared again with many shunning health measures.

Greek Deputy Minister for Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias did not impose additional requirements for testing, as recommended by the experts advising the government on the pandemic without explaining why given the gravity.

“For land travel there is no obligatory measure. There is a strong recommendation to do self-tests,” Hardalias told reporters as the New Democracy government wants tourists.

Current rules require those traveling between regions or to the islands need to display a vaccination certificate, proof of recent recovery from the virus, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure or a negative rapid test conducted 42 hours before traveling.

Travelers who are 12 or older are advised to take a self-test before their return trip, said Kathimerini, as the advisory panel of doctors and scientists also advised tests for travelers and unvaccinated employees in all forms of transport.

The panel also advised making rapid tests compulsory for unvaccinated employees working in ferries, airlines and public land transport as the government has gone back and forth between being tough and also lenient.