20/11/2020 Announcement by the Embassy of Greece on measures against COVID-19 in China

A. As of March 28, 2020, entry into China by foreign nationals holding visas or residence permits is suspended. However, foreign nationals travelling to China for economic, trade, scientific or technological activities, on urgent humanitarian reasons or other essential purposes should apply for new visas at the Chinese Embassies or Consulates.

The number of international flights to and from China remains limited. Flights between Greece and China (Athens-Beijing) are carried out by Air China once per week (Saturday).

Passengers departing from Greece need to fill in the Health Declaration Form which can be downloaded from the Chinese Embassy's website. Passengers arriving to China should provide a certificate of negative PCR-NAT and IgM tests carried out within 48 hours prior to departure and transit, at designated medical institutions, and validated by the local Chinese Embassy. Upon arrival, passengers undergo new nucleic acid testing and health examination and perform a mandatory 14-day-quarantine in designated hotels, at their own expenses. Before travelling to China, passengers are kindly advised to consult the Chinese Embassy's website in order to be updated as far as flights and arrivals are concerned.

According to local authorities, the spread of the new coronavirus is currently under control in China. However, precautionary measures are still applied, such as temperature check and use of a mask for entering buildings, public spaces or transportation. Furthermore, mobile applications monitoring health, travel and contact history are widely used. Before travelling within China, it is strongly advised to ask information from local authorities.

In order to avoid spreading of COVID-19 in China, confirmed, suspected, symptomatic or asymptomatic cases fall within a concrete procedure of collective medical observation, which includes a 28-day-quarantine after hospitalization. In this framework, children who are identified as confirmed or asymptomatic cases are not allowed to be accompanied in hospitals by their family members.

B. Passengers travelling to Greece need to fill-in in advance the Passenger Locator Form (PLF), receive a QR code and provide a negative PCR-NAT test. Detailed information regarding procedures for arrivals to Greece can be found at: https://travel.gov.gr.

Regarding general precautionary measures, the Embassy recommends that Greek citizens comply with the National Public Health Organization (EODY) travel instructions and consult the Embassy's Announcements.