15 II. COVID-19 international arrivals were required to present a The Impact of COVID-19 on the Eastern Aegean Islands 72 hours by land), no matter their vaccination negative PCR result (48 hours if traveling by air, status.23 The PLF requirement was dropped on 15 March 2022,24 and by 1 May 2022, all COVID- 1. COVID-19 Policies for Travellers to Greece On 26 February 2020, Greece confirmed its first case of COVID-19. In response, on 16 March 2020, Greece announced that those entering the country would be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. 19 Two days later, Greece closed its borders to all non-EU nationals, 20 with flights from high-risk EU countries suspended until June 2020. In June 2020, Greece lifted most of its travel bans against EU and non-EU nationals. However, those arriving from countries with high infection rates were required to take a COVID test and agree to a two-week quarantine. Those from lower risk countries were tested at random. Starting in mid-August 2020, those entering Greece by land were required to present a negative COVID-19 test result from at most 72 hours before entry.21 In June 2021, travellers also had the option to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, recovery certificate, or negative COVID test along with a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). 22 By 9 November 2021, all 19 restrictions (testing, vaccination records, PLFs) were lifted for all incoming travellers.25 2. COVID-19 Policies for Asylum Seeker Since the outbreak of COVID-19, asylum seekers have continued to arrive to the East Aegean islands in search of safety from violence, persecution, and humanitarian emergencies in their home countries. However, throughout the pandemic, the Greek government has subjected those asylum seekers to a completely separate set of COVID-19 practices than other foreign nationals entering the country, such as tourists. Since March 2020, the Greek government has resorted to placing newly arriving asylum seekers in state-run quarantine centres under the custody of RIS and the police. While this report focuses on conditions in Chios, a similar quarantine protocol is also taking place on Kos, Lesvos,26 Samos, and Leros as reported by MSF. Generally, RIS has stated that the quarantine for new arrivals first began in March/April 2020.27 News24, "Κορονοϊος: Κλεϊνουν τα εμπορϊκα καταστήματα - Σε καραντϊνα οσοϊ ερχονταϊ απο εξωτερϊκο", 16 March 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3HYXuFk (in Greek). 20 Iefimeridam "Κορωνοϊος: Η ΕΕ κλεϊνεϊ τα συνορα -Ποϊοϊ ταξϊδϊωτες θα μπαϊνουν σε καραντϊνα στήν Ελλαδα | ΚΟΣΜΟΣ", 18 March 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3E7wyCh (in Greek). 21 ITV News, "Greece: Curfew on bars and restaurants as coronavirus cases rise", 11 August 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3YtVU5l. 22 gtp, Greece Extends Covid-19 Air Travel Rules into July, 26 June 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3lEE5li. 23 Health Alert: U.S. Embassy Athens, Greece – Travel Restrictions and Consular Operations, 6 November 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3I6BVCW. 24 Greek Government, Protocol for Arrivals in Greece, available at: https://travel.gov.gr/#/. 25 D1a/GP.οϊκ.23983/29.4.2022, The decision on the measures in force from Sunday 1 May 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3K7mEEn. 26 Medecins sans Frontieres, Constructing Crisis at Europes Borders, June 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/40TavJb. 27 Asylum Information Database, Country Report: Greece, Update 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3mkHPp9, pp. 45, 48. 19 ‘Quarantine of Asylum Seeker’ – A legal classification of the quarantine practice on Chios