Ionian Dolphin Project IDP- COVID19 strategy
June 2023
The information below could be subject to changes according to the COVID-19 situation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in an effort to slow down the spread, many countries are applying temporary restrictions on travel from countries outside the EU by closing borders. Some countries have also applied national border closures and/or border checks at their borders or when moving between different regions at the national level. These restrictions are subject to a continuous evaluation of the epidemiological situation by countries and they change frequently.
Advice for those travelling to Greece
If you intend to travel in the EU, including Greece, check the European Commission Re-open EU web platform containing real-time information on borders, available means of transport and tourism services in the Member States.
At the moment of compiling this info the situation is as follows:
From 15 March 2022 onwards, travellers visiting Greece are no longer required to fill out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). More detail at the official portal of the Hellenic Republic travel.gov.gr.
Travellers are not subject to further testing or quarantine if they provide ONE of the following:
- Proof of full vaccination.
Validity: between 14 days and 9 months after the primary vaccination series is completed, and until further notice after the booster dose.
Accepted vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNtech), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (Astra Zeneca/Oxford), Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Novavax, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm.
- Proof of recovery from COVID-19.
Validity: between 14 days and 6 months after the first positive test result.
- A negative result to a pre-departure molecular test (valid 72 hours) or rapid antigen test (valid 24 hours)
Travelers can provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test result with one of the following:
- A valid ‘EU Digital COVID Certificate’ (EUDCC) or equivalent documents to the EUDCC, meeting the requirements listed above
- Similar certificates meeting the same requirements and showing relevant information (number of doses, dates, etc.) in Greek, English, German, French, Italian Spanish or Russian. The holder’s full name must match the name on the passport or any other recognised travel document.
If needing urgently COVID-19 tests or exhibiting possible symptoms, you may contact the COVID-19 hotline at 1135 for guidance on testing and referral for medical care.
Measures taken by the Tethys Research Institute – IDP
Please note that all of the measures are subject to change. Measures not listed here may be implemented if this is deemed necessary. We will be starting our research season and welcoming our first project participants from 19th June 2022.
At Tethys we believe that the best way of protecting our project participants and personnel is by making sure that all members of our research teams are fully vaccinated. Therefore, we strongly encourage all our participant to be fully vaccinated. However, following the current rules applied by the Greek authorities, in order to be able to participate in the IDP ONLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO conditions are necessary:
Present proof of full vaccination.
Validity: 14 days after the second dose of vaccine. For Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), the vaccination is considered completed 14 days after the single dose has been administered).
Accepted vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNtech), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (Astra Zeneca/Oxford), Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Novavax, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm.
Present at the moment of their arrival to our field base, when meeting our research personnel, the negative result of a PCR taken within the last 72 hours or antigen test taken within the last 48 hours
(Any participant not fulfilling at least one of these two requirements will not be allowed to join our teams. Those planning to visit Greece before joining the IDP must keep in mind that they will have to be tested negative, once in Greece, with a PCR taken within the last 72 hours or antigen test taken within the last 48 hours, before meeting our personnel in Vonitsa)
Local laboratories close to the Ionian Dolphin Project headquarters performing Covid-test:
NASIS ANDREAS; Bacteriological – Clinical Laboratory, Vonitsa
Τelephone: +30 2643029222
Agiou Spyridonos Street & Venizelou Eleftheriou Street, Aktio – Vonitsa, 300 02 Vonitsa Etoloakarnania Greece
PAVLIDOU ELENI; Bacteriological – Clinical Laboratory, Preveza
Τelephone: +30 2682026899
2 Ethnikis Antistaseos Street, Old Town (Preveza), 481 00 Preveza Preveza Greece
BIOLIPSIS LABORATORY,Lefkada (very close to Lefkas Marina)
Koutroumpi St (with Antoniou Tzebeleki St.), 31100 Lefkada
Τelephone: +30 26450 22226
Cell: +30 6973 538 552
email: biolipsis@biolipsis.gr
| Covid Test | Time for results | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antigen test (rapid test) | Within 1 hour | 20 EUR |
| PCR (polymerase chain reaction) | Within 24 hours | 60 EUR |
- All three labs listed above work exclusively Monday-Friday.
- It is recommended to contact testing centres in advance for appointments.
- In all three Labs somebody among their staff speaks English.
- Participants doing a PCR test in any of these facilities must keep in mind that to have results available by Sunday, on arrival to the IDP, they will need to be tested on Thursday. Otherwise, if tested on Friday, their results will not be available until Monday and their participation in the IDP will be consequently delayed.
Key measures that will be implemented by the IDP
The key measures that will be implemented by the IDP during your stay with us are listed below:
- IDP headquarters will be cleaned and disinfected by a local company following protocols developed by Greek health authorities before the arrival of a new group of project participants (i.e., weekly);
- All areas must be well ventilated and there will be always access to running water and soap to allow good hygiene practice;
- Face masks will be required inside of the field base whenever participants will be working together if the minimum safety distance of 1.5 m cannot be maintained (project participants should bring their own masks https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-masks )
- The best and most consistent way of preventing the spread of the coronavirus—and reducing risk of contracting it— remains washing your hands with soap and water as a first choice, and avoiding touching your face as much as possible (use of gloves should not replace hand washing!);
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers will be also distributed in different areas of the IDP field base (project participants are encouraged to bring also some of their own);
- A dishwasher reaching high temperatures to guarantee complete disinfection is available on site. Any occasional dishwashing by hand will be done with running hot water and wearing gloves with dish soap;
- The distribution of beds will guarantee a distance of at least 1.5m with other participants;
- Participants are kindly required to bring their own bedsheets and towels (laundry facilities are locally available);
- The IDP research boat is an open deck spacious 7.2 m long RIB (rigid inflatable boat) equipped with an outboard Yamaha 200 HP 4 strokes engine. While onboard there will be a constant natural ventilation and crew members will be able to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5m between them;
- When using the IDP vehicle everybody (driver included) will be using masks and windows will be opened for ventilation;
- Every morning all team members, participants and IDP staff will have their body temperature taken and logged;
- If anybody shows Covid-19 symptoms– a cough, fever, shortness of breath – there will be a protocol for dealing with it, including isolating that person and informing the relevant local health authorities.
We take this situation very seriously, and the safety of our staff and project participants is our top priority. Our researchers will take the utmost precaution to help our participants having a safe, educational and enjoyable experience at the IDP.
PLEASE, participants in the Ionian Dolphin Project should sign the declaration (download it), scan it or take a picture with a cell phone and send it to tethys@tethys.org before getting to Greece
