Travel Warning: COVID Outbreak Hits Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, and Malta – Travel And Tour World

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Holidaymakers planning trips to Europe this summer are on high alert as Covid cases surge in several popular tourist destinations. Greece’s health authorities have reported a worrying spike in Covid cases, which is three times higher than the same week last year, with 669 people hospitalized.

In just one week, the number of detected infections in Greece has doubled. Similar trends are being observed in Cyprus, Belgium, and Ireland, where cases have also doubled.

Greece’s hospital union warns that Covid admissions are set to continue rising, and masks have been reintroduced in some hospitals around Athens. Northern Greece is also seeing a sharp rise in cases, with the elderly and vulnerable urged to seek help if they display Covid symptoms.

Malta has experienced an almost 400% increase in Covid cases in recent months, according to reports. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted a similar surge in Luxembourg. Significant increases have also been recorded in Portugal, the Netherlands, Poland, and Norway. In Portugal, the number of cases surged by 700% between May and June, hitting 10,000 in July.

This surge comes as the UK also experiences a rise in cases, with nearly 18,000 new infections detected despite no routine testing. The World Health Organisation has issued a stark warning to those planning summer holidays, urging them to take Covid precautions such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and getting tested. The World Health Organisation stressed that the pandemic is far from over, with the virus still claiming 1,700 lives globally each week.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organisation director-general, has voiced his concerns over falling vaccine coverage among the over-60s and health workers, two groups particularly vulnerable to severe Covid outcomes.

In the UK, some hospitals have reinstated compulsory mask-wearing, while others advise individuals with Covid symptoms to stay home unless they require medical attention. In France, the Tour de France has made mask-wearing mandatory for anyone interacting with competitors or teams following several Covid cases.

The World Health Organisation continues to advise travelers to wear well-fitted masks, maintain hand hygiene, get tested if they exhibit Covid-19 symptoms before traveling, and consider staying home if unwell. While most countries and airlines no longer mandate vaccination, the World Health Organisation ‘s primary advice is to ensure your vaccine is up-to-date before travel.

The latest Covid symptoms include fatigue, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache, body aches, and cough—similar to symptoms seen earlier in the pandemic. While loss of taste and smell has become less common, some individuals may experience conjunctivitis (pink eye) or gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, though these are rarer.

The UK is grappling with a fresh surge of Covid cases, attributed to new variants known as FLiRT and FLuQE. Despite this, symptoms are generally less severe due to widespread immunity from vaccines or past infections.