Czech residents likely to need negative COVID-19 test to enter Greece starting September 28

Czech residents traveling to Greece will have to present a negative COVID-19 test when entering the country starting September 28, according to Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček.

"From Monday September 28, it will probably be possible to travel [to Greece] for a late vacation only with a negative test as old as 72 hours," Petříček tweeted yesterday.

"The Greeks also want to tighten travel for Belgians, Spaniards, Bulgarians, Romanians, Hungarians and others... I will try to negotiate exceptions for trips already paid for."

That means anyone flying or driving to Greece will have to provide the negative test, no older than 72 hours. The requirement does not apply to anyone under the age of 10 years old.

Domestic travel agencies in the country plan to reimburse their clients for the test for the last few trips of the season, according to ČTK.

Greece and Finland are the latest countries to add the Czech Republic to their list of risk countries. On Wednesday, Germany placed almost all of the Czech Republic on its list of risk areas in terms of the COVID-19 epidemic, with the exception of the Ústí (north Bohemia) and Moravia-Silesia regions.

The border between the Czech Republic and Germany remains open, but stricter quarantine measures are in place, meaning travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine in Germany with a subsequent testing. A fine of up to several thousands of euros has been set for violations. Exempted from the requirements are cross-border commuters and truck drivers.