1.5 Greece and Cyprus have reversed easing the travel restrictions on that allowed Lebanese travelers with a valid visa to fly in and pass the borders base on a -ve PCR test. What is the background of this decision, and what are the implications?

2.5 Colleagues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they were informed this decision was based on the recommendation of @ECDC_EU. Although lebanon currently has a low prevalence of #Covid19 cases, there is other information that @ECDC_EU examines.

3.5 First, is the incidence of #Covid19 in a country on the rise or decline? In , daily new cases had been decreasing, reaching single digits before the decision in early May to ease the lockdown and expand the repatriations. Since then, the numbers have been in a steady rise.

4.5 Second is an assessment of the #Covid19 data in the last 14 days, particularly local cases. has recorded double-digit daily new cases over that period. The decision by European countries will be reviewed regularly, and is in the process of defending its case. @ChangSara

5.5 If we keep the contained, clusters quickly isolated, despite businesses and airport openning, we will be allowed to travel to Europe soon. That is a big if, requiring the right policies by an increasingly besieged officials, and compliance by an increasingly weary public.