Greece to Lift Mask Requirement in Planes and Public Indoor Areas on June 1

The mandatory quarantine requirement has been introduced by authorities in Athens in order to contain the further spread of the COVID-19 and its new variants, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The Hellenic Republic government’s decision comes following the EU’s announcement to abolish the mandatory face requirement in airports from May 16. Such new changes were confirmed through a statement published by the European Union Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

However, rules for wearing a face mask differ among countries despite the EU’s decision, after several airlines have urged passengers to continue to use face covering to and from destinations where a mask on public transport is still needed.

“Mandatory mask-wearing remains in hospitals, nursing homes and urban transport like buses, metro and tram,” Greece’s Health Minister Thanos Plevris pointed out in this regard.

The Minister added that an expert committee would introduce a decision for ferry passengers in the upcoming weeks.

The Greek Ministry of Health previously announced that the country would abolish the COVID-19 proof of vaccination, recovery, or negative result of the COVID-19 test requirement from the beginning of this month.

Still, Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that the requirement to keep a face-covering during flights and airports would continue to remain effective, despite the fact that the remaining restrictions have been abolished.

Recently EASA and ECDC announced that the face mask would no longer be mandatory in European countries.

“From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky pointed out in this regard.

However, some countries decided not to follow such requirements and keep the face-covering requirement in place for another period.

Recently, authorities in Italy announced that they will continue to oblige all citizens on flights to and from Italy to use face masks until June 15, for all long-distance public transport, including buses, regional trains, trams, ferries, subways as well as planes, despite the EU’s recommendation to abolish such a requirement.

Besides Italy, authorities in Spain also announced that all persons on flights to and from Spain would be obliged to continue to wear a face mask. The decision was confirmed through a statement published by the country’s Minister of Health, Carolina Darias.