The European Union is prepared to reopen its borders to visitors from more than a dozen countries, but not to Americans. While most of Europe has successfully reduced new cases of coronavirus, America’s numbers continue to rise.
In Greece, the modern economy depends on tourists, but people who come from the United States are considered high risk. There are simply too many new infections every day in the United States, Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias told CBS News foreign correspondent Holly Williams.
“We hope that the situation will improve in a few days or weeks, so this can change,” said Kikilias. “It is something that everyone can understand. It is logical.”
The number of confirmed new cases of coronavirus in the US was a record high on Friday with more than 45,000 cases reported, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. There were more than 41,000 new cases on Monday.
Greek authorities will do thousands of random tests every day at airports and border crossings, and even test kits were dispatched to remote islands.
Greece has been remarkably successful in fighting the coronavirus, and does not want to jeopardize it. Around 200 people died from COVID-19 in Greece, representing approximately 20 lives lost for every million people. In the United States, about 400 lost lives have been lost for every million people.
Dr. Eleni Kakalou, who treats COVID-19 patients in Greece, said her advice to stay safe this summer is clear.
“As a health officer, I would consider that the best thing that everyone should do is not travel at all for this year,” he said.
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