Greece’s Health Ministry ends the compulsory use of face masks against Covid-19 on public transport means that was obligatory since April 2020. The measure goes into effect on Monday, March 27, 2023.
Note that many passengers stopped wearing the obligatory masks in public transport since the government relaxed general protection provisions since December 2022.
However, masks and Rapid or PCR tests remain compulsory in public and private hospitals, health, rehabilitation and diagnostic centers as well as in care homes for elderly and people with disabilities.
Rapid tests are no longer mandatory for unvaccinated workers elsewhere
The ministry decision published in the official gazette provides, among others, the measures that apply to health structures and specifically to visitors, staff and patients.
Patients seeking a public or private health facility for examination are not subject to laboratory testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Patients seeking an invasive examination or for an examination that may cause aerosols are subject to a laboratory test (PCR or rapid test)
Patients who are admitted/hospitalized are subject to mandatory laboratory testing as follows:
Patients admitted with a regular ticket (scheduled admission) arrive with a PCR performed up to forty-eight (48) hours before their scheduled admission.
Patients who are admitted urgently (emergency admission) are immediately subject to a rapid test and at the same time to a PCR on the first day of their admission-hospitalization.
In both of the above cases, the test is repeated with a rapid test every seven (7) days.
Patients admitted with a one (1) day ticket for chemotherapy or radiation are subject to repeated laboratory testing [PCR every seventy-two (72) hours or rapid test every forty-eight (48) hours] for each day they are admitted.
Excluded from the above obligations are patients who come to a public or private health facility to deal with emergencies.
Patients’ visitors: One visitor per patient with PCR (72hours) or Rapid test (48 hours).
One (1) attendant per patient. Especially for patients who cannot take care of themselves, one (1) attendant is allowed per patient who can be rotated. Exceptionally for pediatric patients up to two (2) companions are allowed.
For accompanying patients or hospitalized patients, the following conditions apply:
Fully vaccinated and those who have been ill in the last six months accompanying patients are not subject to laboratory control before entering a public or private structure providing primary care services health, including public and private clinics.
Non-vaccinated or non-ill accompanying patients are subject to a laboratory test (PCR or rapid test) within forty-eight (48) hours before entering a public or private primary health care service provision structure, including public and private clinics.
More details in the health ministry decision here in Greek.