While Greece will be finally opening its borders to most foreign travelers on Wednesday, July 1, some countries may most likely be put on a travel ban list due to their current rates of people infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus.
According to Greece’s state broadcaster ERT, the residents of a total of nine countries may be barred from visiting the nation until further notice due to epidemiological data as well as recent spikes in the number of coronavirus cases in these areas.
While the information has yet to be officially confirmed by the European Union, the nine countries are reported to be: the United States, North Macedonia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The ERT report stated that the increase in numbers of coronavirus infections is concerning, and may make it difficult for these countries to negotiate the passage of their citizens into Greece or anywhere else in the EU this summer.
The United States is said to be at the top of the list of nations whose citizens will potentially be banned from visiting Greece. Washington is reportedly currently trying to reach an agreement with Brussels to avoid being placed on the list of what it considers “non coronavirus-safe” countries.
The permanent representatives of European Union member states will be meeting on Friday to discuss which countries should be on the banned list. Several European nations, including Greece and others which are on the external borders of the EU, had planned to open to all foreign travelers on July 1.
Even if these nine nations are placed on the no-fly list, some EU member states are reportedly suggesting opening their borders to their citizens on July 15, pending further analysis.
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