Greece coronavirus infections spike yet easyJet flights to the country rise after Spain travel ban
GREECE has reported the highest number of new coronavirus infections in weeks, with 121 new cases.
Yet Brits are still heading for a Greek holiday, as easyJet claims flights are soaring to the country after the Spain travel ban.
While the majority of new cases in Greece have been located in Thessaloniki, 12 of them have been from tourists entering the country, taking overall cases to 4,855.
Active cases, currently at 3,272, have been rising since May 1.
Greece’s top scientific adviser Professor Sotiris Tsiodras said: "There must be great vigilance to a possible increase. The situation could quickly get out of hand. It needs vigilance and attention by all."
Greek authorities are thought to be considering enforcing lockdown measures once again if cases continue to rise, claiming they were ready to reimpose public and travel restrictions if the guidance continues to be ignored.
Government spokesperson Stelios Petsas told that they were "determined to protect the majority from the frivolous few."
New restrictions in place include mandatory face masks on all public transport and indoor facilities.
However, chief executive of Easyjet Johan Lundgren told that flights to Greece were rising in popularity after Brits were banned from travelling to Spain at short notice.
He explained: "The bookings lost out on to Spain were, to quite a large degree, picked up by the increased demand into Turkey, Croatia and Greece."
The airline has since increased their flight operations this summer - they are expanding their schedule to 40 per cent of normal capacity between July and September, compared with the 30 per cent it predicted in June.
Hotels in Greece have also slashed prices to encourage British holidaymakers with some as low as £11 a night.
Despite this, Brits still face travel restrictions when heading to Greece - to be allowed to enter, tourists must fill in a Passenger Locator Form 24 hours before travelling to receive a QR code.
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This must be shown on arrival at the airport - anyone without it faces €500 fines or being sent back to the UK.
A group of tourists were fined €500 (£453) after arriving in Greece earlier this month without the new passenger locator forms.
However, a spokesperson for Greek tourism : "We have no reported issues regarding the PLF form."