20/3/2020 Announcement by the Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai on measures for arrivals at Shanghai’s two airports (Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport)

We would like to inform you that according to the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, due to the current situation of COVID-19 abroad and the need of prevention in Shanghai, the local government extended the list of key affected countries, adding eight countries, amongst which Greece.

The list includes following countries: South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, the United States, UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Malaysia, Greece, Czech, Finland, Qatar, Canada, Saudi Arabia.

We would like to bring to the kind attention of Greek citizens who intend to travel to Shanghai that, starting from March 20, 2020, any Chinese or foreign citizens who have traveled or lived in the above-mentioned countries within 14 days prior to their arrival in Shanghai, must undergo 14-day quarantine for medical observation, either at home, if relevant requirements are met, or at designated places, where they will need to cover accommodation and meal fees. The accommodation charge is between 200 and 400 yuan per person daily.

Three control levels are established at Shanghai’s two airports: the first one onboard, the second one at the terminal and the third one at temporary checking and observation sites in each Shanghai district.

Initial screening: Onboard check

Upon arrival of the aircraft, Shanghai Customs officials will enter the aircraft to check the temperature and information of each passenger.

Passengers with fever or other suspected symptoms (i.e. shortness of breath) will be sent to designated hospitals by ambulance standing by on the tarmac.

Passengers without symptoms will be taken to the terminal.

Secondary screening: At terminal

Every passenger must undergo an epidemiological investigation, screening of Health Declaration Card and temperature check.

Following this control level, passengers may be divided in three groups:
(a) High risk: if any of the above procedures suggests that a passenger could be infected by COVID-19, this person will be sent to a designated hospital for further check.
(b) Medium risk: if there are no obvious symptoms, but, based on multiple factors it is still considered that there is a risk, the passenger will be sent to designated quarantine spots for medical observation.
(c) Low risk: If there is no evidence of COVID-19 infection at the terminal check, passengers from countries not included in the list of key countries will be allowed to leave the airport. They might be required to undergo home quarantine.

All passengers from 24 key countries will be transported to districts’ temporary checking and observation sites. Transportation by private means is no longer allowed.

Third screening: At temporary checking and observation sites in each Shanghai district.

Passengers will undergo Nucleic Acid Test-ΝΑΤ. The process usually lasts 6-8 hours, but in some cases it might be longer.

Passengers with positive test result will be transferred to designated medical treatment institutions.

During the stay at temporary checking and observation sites, district committees will check whether living spaces of passengers meet home quarantine conditions. If conditions do not allow home quarantine, arriving passengers will be quarantined at designated sites. In this case, they will need to cover accommodation and meal fees.

People at home quarantine are required not to live in the same apartment with family members who do not need to be quarantined, unless the latter promise to undergo quarantine together.

So as to ensure that people quarantined for medical observation do not leave home, police, health authorities and community officials will impose strict home quarantine management.

Please note that the whole process of the three control levels might last in total as long as 12 hours and in some cases even longer.

Business travelers, who come from any of the 24 countries, have a specific itinerary and destination and are planning to stay in Shanghai for a short time (less than a week), will be taken to a temporary centralized inspection point for NAT test. If the test result is negative, they will be transferred to the designated hotel and they will be allowed to carry out their business activities, on the condition that they undergo a daily health check which includes temperature check.

In light of the new measures and the inclusion of Greece in the list of key countries, the Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai recommends that Greek citizens avoid, for the time being, all unnecessary traveling to Shanghai. In case traveling to Shanghai is deemed absolutely necessary, Greek citizens are advised to contact the Consulate General at or +86 139 165 295 29 in advance of their journey.

Moreover, regarding precautionary measures, it is recommended that Greek citizens abide by National Public Health Organization (EODY) travel instructions and refer to the announcements of the Consulate General of Greece in Shanghai (https://www.mfa.gr/china/en/consulate-general-shanghai/ ).