Testing rules for UK travellers visiting Greece have been relaxed amid growing speculation the British government is planning to ease quarantine regulations for people returning from amber list destinations.
UK passengers can now enter Greece after a negative rapid antigen test result following the rule changes.
They can also provide a negative PCR test, undertaken within the 72-hour period before arrival, or proof of two Covid-19 vaccinations completed at least 14 days before travel to qualify for exemption from quarantine or self-isolation.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its advice for Greece, but anyone travelling must still complete a Passenger Locator Form before travelling into and out of Greece.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government was investigating alternatives to quarantine for double-vaccinated travellers returning from amber nations.
It has emerged that fewer an one in 200 passengers returning from amber destinations have coronavirus with no new variants of concern.
Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “We’re not ready to be able to take that step yet, but it’s something that I want to see and we will introduce, subject to clinical advice, as soon as it’s reasonable to do so.”
He was also asked whether the remaining restrictions are likely to be lifted before the new road map date for England of July 19.
He said: “We are looking at the data, and we’ve said that we’ll take a specific look two weeks into the four-week delay that we had to put in place to get more people vaccinated, so we’ll do that.
“But I have every confidence that the more people get vaccinated, the easier it is, the safer it is to lift restrictions. We had to have the delay in order to get more people vaccinated, especially those second vaccines to protect people, we’re being careful, we’re being cautious.
“But I have a high degree of confidence that this vaccine is going to get us out of this, and the more people who come forward, the easier that will be.”
