The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Greece - these are the new restrictions in place

New restrictions have been imposed on the island of Poros until 17 August (Photo: Shutterstock)New restrictions have been imposed on the island of Poros until 17 August (Photo: Shutterstock)
New restrictions have been imposed on the island of Poros until 17 August (Photo: Shutterstock)

The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for holidaymakers heading to Greece, following an outbreak in coronavirus cases.

Officials in Greece have imposed new restrictions on the island of Poros until mid-August, after a spike of 30 new infections were reported.

What restrictions are in place in Poros?

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Local restrictions are in place on the island of Poros until 6pm on 17 August.

The new measures include the following:

  • All restaurants and food shops must be closed between 11pm and 7am
  • All live events and celebrations, such as parties, trade fairs, religious ceremonies and open markets are suspended
  • No more than nine people can gather for any reason in public or private spaces
  • The maximum number of people allowed per table in dining facilities, including cafes, tavernas and restaurants, is four, unless your group consists only of close family members you regularly engage with, in which case, up to six people are allowed
  • Mandatory use of masks indoors, except in private spaces such as hotel rooms, and outdoors throughout the island

Additional checks and patrols will also be carried out to enforce the new measures, with both residents and visitors required to comply with the Greek authorities’ requirements. Failure to do so could result in a heavy fine.

These restrictions have been enforced since 6am on 7 August, after 13 new cases were recorded in just 24 hours, with 30 people reported to be infected in total.

In a statement, the Civil Protection said that the new restrictions were necessary “for urgent reasons of addressing a serious risk to public health”, and to help limit any further spread of the virus.

What rules are in place elsewhere?

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Further restrictions have recently been imposed on other islands in Greece, with the government imposing a late night curfew on bars and restaurants in a number of popular holiday spots, following a rise in infections.

Establishments will now be forced to close from midnight until 7am, with the curfew affecting the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos and Kos. The restrictions will be in place from 11 to 23 August.

The cities of Thessaloniki, Larissa, Volos and Katerini will be affected, as well as the Halkidiki peninsula.

It is mandatory to wear face masks on public transport, including flights and ferries, at airports and in taxis, in any part of Greece.

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Travel in a private car or a taxi is limited to a maximum of three adult passengers per vehicle, in addition to the driver. Any children in the vehicle do not count towards this limit.

Face masks are also obligatory in public indoor spaces, including medical facilities, lifts, staircases and any enclosed venue that provides goods or services. This includes supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, cafes, banks, government and utility providers’ offices, retail shops, barber shops, hairdressers and beauty parlours, as well as places of worship.

However, there are exemptions for dining areas and for medical reasons.

Additionally, no standing customers are allowed in entertainment venues, including clubs, live music venues, bars, restaurants and cafes.

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