Ferryboat Thessaloniki-Skopelos starts June the 10th.

The ferryboat is called Superrunner

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Greece Drops Covid-19 Requirements for Country Entry

As of May 1, travelers coming to Greece will no longer be required to display an EU Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC), recovery certificate, or test to enter the country, the Greek Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

More specifically, the government’s Covid committee decided unanimously starting May 1:

– travelers to Greece will be able to enter the country without presenting a digital covid certificate which indicates whether someone has been vaccinated against Covid-19, a recovery certificate or a negative test

– admission to restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and entertainment venues will be allowed to all. The vaccination certificate, test or proof of recovery requirement has been dropped

– restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and entertainment venues will be able to operate at full (100 percent) capacity

– mask wearing outdoors is no longer necessary but the Covid committee strongly advises the use of face masks indoors

– school children will no longer be required to self-test and college students will not be required to take rapid tests

– unvaccinated employees and teachers will be required to present one rapid test per week (from the current two). This does not apply to medical staff.

Additional details will be outlined in the relevant ministerial decision.

It should be noted that during a press conference earlier this month, Health Minister Thanos Plevris reiterated that Covid measures are being lifted temporarily until September, when the situation will be reassessed. The same, he said, will apply to the face mask rule.

Source: https://news.gtp.gr/2022/04/29/greece-drops-covid-19-requirements-for-country-entry/

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Boats

At the moment there are already four boats ( ferryboats and flying dolphin) that come and go to Skopelos. This is an example from Easter week (openseas.gr) The boat from Thsessaloniki will probably start in June.

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Smaller

The fenced parking lot next to the harbor will become a little smaller to facilitate the traffic in the harbor. The iron fence on one side has been removed and a new stone wall is built. The bigger harbor can be used, under special circumstances, also for parking.

This is the beginning of the new stone wall

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Always something to see

The winter months may be quiet on the island but there is always something moving. You just have to look for it. This is the Proteus ferryboat travelling to Mantoudi. I saw it from Stafylos beach this afternoon. An easier route getting to the island from Athens. Glad we have it back.

These two fishing boats got into each others way whilst throwing out their nets. After a discussion one boat found other fishing grounds. The boats were fishing of Milia beach yesterday.

The weather will change towards the weekend. Colder temperatures (below zero) and a possibility of snow on Saturday. We will see. This image below is from https://www.meteo.gr/cf-en.cfm?city_id=230

I am getting some extra supplies.

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Proteus back and Easyjet from London to Volos

Updated timetable 16/01/2022 (source https://www.anes.gr/el/dromologia/sporades)

The Proteus ferryboat starts with sailing on Monday the 17th of January to and from Volos and from Wednesday (and every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) to and from Mantoudi.

Source: https://www.anes.gr/index.php/en/itinerary/sporades

Easyjet will fly to Volos airport starting on the 2nd of April 2021 from London Gatwick.

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Greece to require negative Covid-19 tests from all travelers as of December 19

Fears over the fast-spreading Omicron variant of Covid-19 have prompted Greek authorities to require as of 6am on Sunday, December 19, of all inbound travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result taken before entering the country.

PCR tests should be performed within 72 hours before travel and rapid antigen tests should be performed within 24 hours before travel.

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga said that the measure was being taken as a precaution due to the holiday season and that exempt from presenting a negative test are (vaccinated) people who stayed abroad for less than 48 hours.

Further details and updates on travel restrictions are expected to be announced soon by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

Highly concerned, earlier today, European Union leaders agreed that vaccine booster shots were necessary, particularly in view of the holiday season as epidemiologists warn of a surge in cases.

The heads of EU nations said that repeat doses of vaccines against the deadly virus were “urgent” and “crucial”, stressing at the same time that a coordinated response to travel was critical in order to avoid creating confusion and trust among travelers.

Source: https://news.gtp.gr/2021/12/16/greece-require-negative-covid-19-tests-all-travelers-december-19/

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Ferries, ships docked as Greece’s seamen go on 48h strike, Dec 10-11

Ferries and ships will remain docked as Greece’s seamen federation PNO has announced it will launch a 48-hour strike on December 10-11, 2021. The strike will affect all categories of ships.

It will start at 00:01 on Friday, December 10 and end at midnight Saturday, December 11, 2021.

According to a statement issued by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO), seamen demand wage increases in the collective bargaining agreements for 2020-2021 and solutions to problems relating to social insurance, pensions, education, unemployment, undeclared work and many others.

Source: https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2021/11/30/ferries-greece-strike-dec-10-11-2021/

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Boat strike

The Greek Seafarers’ Unions announced a 48-hour strike for Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th of November 2021.

The strike will last from 06:01 on Wednesday until 06:00 on Friday the 12th of November.

Please check with the local boat ticket agency if they think both boats will not sail and alternatives for travelling.

Source: https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/blog/ferry-news/ferry-strike-greece

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Greece Tightens Restrictions for Outside Movement via SMS

The words below have been copied from the article that was published last night in the Greek Travel Pages. For Skopelos I do not know how the rules will be enforced because up till now we have been able to cruise free on the island and go to beaches etc. For those that are not sure of what they can and cannot do, you can ask the authorities.

See below:

Going outside in Greece during lockdown will get harder as of Thursday, March 4, as authorities have tightened rules for leaving home under the SMS system for outside movement.

Since the country’s first lockdown, people have been allowed to leave their homes only for specific reasons and after notifying authorities by sending an SMS to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033.

However, due to the recent sharp spike in new coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the country and rise in hospital admissions, the Greek authorities are looking to limit movement between municipalities to curb the spread. Taking under consideration the “excessive use” of certain SMS movement codes, which has resulted to crowding in many areas, some restrictions for leaving home under the SMS system have been announced.

Speaking during Wednesday’s Covid-19 media briefing, Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias announced that as of today, Thursday, March 4 (6am) until March 16 (6am), people requesting permission for movement by sending as SMS for option “code 2” (going to supermarkets and essential stores) and option “code 3” (going to banks or public services) will be restricted to movement only in the municipality they are in or within a 2-kilometer distance from their place of residence.

People who send an SMS for option “code 6” (personal exercise or walking a pet), movement will be allowed only on foot or by bicycle, not by car or motorcycle, and only in the municipality of residence.

Also, in order to confirm the correct use of option “code 4” (assistance to the elderly or to a person in need), authorities will request additional clarifications and documentation.

Changes to curfew
The deputy minister also announced that the curfew for areas in “red” (high-risk) status will now be from 9 pm to 5 am and for areas in “dark red” (very high-risk) status, will be from 7 pm to 5 am.

The only “dark red” areas that will have the 9 pm to 5 am curfew will be the Region of Attica and the Regional Unit of Thessaloniki, except on weekends when the 7 pm to 5 am will apply.

During the hours of curfew, outside movement is allowed strictly for specific reasons (such as work and health).

For the rest of the article read Movement restrictions GTP Travel pages

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