Alonissos in resort Covid test center

PRE DEPARTURE COVID TESTS

If you have not brought with you on holiday a self test from a private clinic in order to arrange an online virtual video call test, we are aware at present of one option on Alonissos island in order to be able to obtain a Covid test and valid certificate for travel.

Cosmos health is located on the north portion of the Patitiri ring road and guests can get a Covid test between 10.00 - 12.00 and 18:00 - 20.00 and must be booked in advance. You need to call for an appointment +30 24240 65555. Price is €60 for PCR or €20 for lateral flow antigen test and guests must take along their passport for their appointment. Certificate for travel will be issued within 24 hours of test.

• We recommend as opening times and appointment slot times appear limited that you make your appointment at the earliest opportunity. Olympic holidays or our agent Albedo travel are unable to make any test appointments on your behalf due to data protection reasons as you will need to provide personal details and information for you appointment.

• There are sadly no government free testing centres on Alonissos, the nearest one being on Skiathos at the big white building on the main port jetty which free tests are available Monday to Friday 09.00 – 15.30, where we are aware of some travellers taking a day trip to Skiathos on the ferry to use this facility. It is a walk-in centre and not possible to make an appointment, and due to popularity of being a free test for anyone, you may have to queue up to an hour or two at busy times to receive your test. In addition to your passport you may be asked to show a copy of your entry to Greece Passenger locator form in either a paper copy or on your phone. Once tested you are able to request by email a letter / certificate of your results several hours after test for proof at check in and entry to the UK. Although the UK government website stipulates that the test to re-enter the UK must be conducted by a ‘private test provider’, this free test service is provided by the Greek government and has been widely accepted by many European countries and we have not been advised of anyone being turned away at Skiathos airport or having difficulties entering the UK using test certificates from this test centre, however if you wish to use this service for your return test it is entirely at your own risk.

• All UK airlines flying from Skiathos and UK government websites say that lateral flow antigen type of tests are fully acceptable and we have been advised that UK travellers have used these tests to re-enter the UK from Greece without issue, however the clinics themselves would not fully guarantee that these would be accepted by UK airlines or UK border staff. If you wish to use a lateral flow antigen test option this must be discussed with the clinic when making appointments. You will need to take along your passport for all Covid test appointments.

• When you receive your certificate please ensure it stipulates the following information as stated on the Government website:-

o Your name, which should match the name on your travel documents

o Your date of birth or age

o The result of the test and the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider

o The name of the test provider and their contact details

o Confirmation of the lateral flow antigen device used for the test, or that the test was a PCR test

• You will also need to arrange a further test to be taken two days after your return to the UK before you return to the UK, of which the name of processing test clinic and booking reference of this test booking you will need to enter when completing your UK passenger locator form 48 hours before you return to the UK, and you will not be able to complete your passenger locator form without these details. Depending on the company you use in most cases this can be booked online and must be a government recognised clinic / service as listed on the UK government website ( www.gov.uk/find-travel-test-provider ). Further tests and quarantine in the UK may be required if you are an unvaccinated traveller.

• Should you fail to obtain a valid test certificate, you may be denied boarding for your flight where any costs relating to additional accommodation or flights etc will be your responsibility, you may also receive a fine of up to £500.00 per person if on attempting to enter the UK you are unable to produce a valid certificate at UK Border Control.

• Olympic holidays are not affiliated with any of these testing services therefore cannot be held responsible for accuracy of information detailed here which has been provided by the testing centres themselves or from third party websites, nor can they be held responsible for any failure or complication of service or inability to secure an appointment of any testing supplier, where this letter is only to advise of testing options that we are currently aware of.

We strongly recommend you read the information (especially if unvaccinated as information may differ) of full details of what you need to know and of your responsibility can be found at the UK government website:- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england#take-a-coronavirus-test-before-you-travel-to-england