My wife and I have planned a two week visit to the Greek Islands of Kefelonia and Lefekada in September. From what I can see the infection rate is very high (174 per 100,000)in Greece. Their vaccination rate is 46% which should be at about 60% by the time we arrive if they maintain their current rate. Does anyone have information from inside Greece about what it's really like there?
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20179 posts
I sit in Crete as I type (the two previous days, Athens).
Entering the country is currently uneventful if you do your homework.
It's pretty much life as normal here and in Athens.
Occasionally to get into something I have to show my CDC card, but not often.
If you want masks and social distancing (reasonable desire) ... stay away.
Posted by
172 posts
We are vaccinated Americans and have been in Greece for 5 weeks. Life is pretty normal. Not too many tourists. Mask s are required indoors but there are usually a few people wearing them improperly like under their nose. Hotels do not offer self service breakfast buffets anymore. Most restaurants have outdoor seating and are not crowded. Archeological sites are open. Museums enforce distancing. Beaches are great.
We feel safe. We have visited the islands of Evia, Kea, and Kithnos and are now on Aegina. Covid is spiking in the party islands of Mykonos and Ios. Kefalonia and Lefkada will probably be fine.
Posted by
Reading, PA, USA
1637 posts
"From what I can see the infection rate is very high (174 per 100,000)in Greece"
The latest info I have is their rate is 25.4 from the web page published daily by the Brown School of Public Health (Harvard). { { https://globalepidemics.org/key-metrics-for-covid-suppression/ }
This is not as high as you stated but it is in their red (highest) category. I would track it for awhile, and if it does not decrease, this would not be an area I would want to visit (and I very much would like to travel to Greece).
Posted by
New York
80 posts
Any Covid development could change situation quite quickly. It's too early to know what happens in September. Vaccination rate can be stalled, there is a lot of antivax movement in Greece. https://www.thenationalherald.com/archivegeneralnewsgreece/arthro/greekpolicebustupantivaccinationprotestwithteargas-2941025/
Covid cases could go up or down. I would wait for the last minute when cancellation is still possible for free and decide. You probably have another month.
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1419 posts
Posted by
Reading, PA, USA
1637 posts
New restrictions in Mykonos. May spread to more of Greece?? See below T+L article.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20179 posts
My guide last night indicated that the restrictions are so unpopular that they will be, or have, repealed them. But look for something official.
Posted by
New York
80 posts
My another concert would be if Europe close their border to US travelers, including vaccinated adults, citing the fast spread of Delta variant in US. The same way US will not open borders to Europeans travelers this summer, no matter their vaccination status. So those local restrictions are pale in comparison.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thank you everyone for your responses. The situation is certainly changing all the time. We're choosing to focus on the fact that we can even consider a trip like this and that we are both healthy and vaccinated.