Update 14 July: Library and International Travel access policies
International Travel Policy
As the Greek and UK governments continue to update their policies on international travel, the BSA has updated the procedures it has put in place to protect staff and members within its close-contact community. The following policy is effective from Monday 20th July and will be continually reviewed.
Members, readers or visiting researchers arriving from Europe outside Greece – by direct flight, transfer, sea travel, or car – are requested not to come to the BSA premises within 48 hours of their arrival. If you are tested upon arrival and are notified of a positive result (usually within 24 hours of testing), you must follow all instructions from the Greek health authorities and you should not come to the BSA. Members, readers or visiting researchers must show a dated flight ticket, passport stamp, or details of a negative test to the Librarians or Secretary on first arrival at the BSA.
The above also applies to BSA staff members returning from abroad for work or personal reasons.
Members arriving from Europe outside Greece can book Hostel accommodation with the Secretary. Upon arrival, residents will be accommodated in the en-suite Visiting Fellow flat (with private fridge) but must not use any communal facilities of the BSA until 48 hours have passed from their arrival into Greece. If you are tested upon arrival and are notified of a positive result (usually within 24 hours of testing), you must follow all instructions from the Greek health authorities and you should contact BSA staff ASAP. Once this period of precautionary isolation has been completed, the resident will be moved to a different room, and the flat will be cleaned thoroughly for the next arrival.
The above applies for travellers incoming from countries with which Greece is currently operating direct flights. For all other eventualities, please contact either the Director or the Assistant Director.
When on BSA premises, all safety procedures relating to hand sanitisation, mask wearing, and physical distancing must be rigorously followed. These protocols are clearly advertised on posters throughout the premises: prior to arrival all details of BSA risk assessments will be sent by e-mail. Attention is drawn particularly to the requirement to respect office space; meetings with BSA staff can only be made by appointment and in a suitable, preferably outside, space.
The BSA reserves the right to vary these procedures at short notice in the event of an outbreak of Covid-19 and/or in the light of re-imposition of measures by the Greek or UK governments.
Library access
As part of the phased reopening of BSA facilities, we are pleased to announce the following changes to Library access effective from Monday 20th July.
• Members will have 24 hour access to the Library, seven days a week.
• To facilitate this, access between the Hostel and Library will be reinstated. Members are reminded that they must continue to sign in whenever they use the Library so that the BSA can maintain a list of contacts in the event of a Covid-19 case being notified.
- The Hostel area will therefore be open to Members, but all protocols relating to hand sanitisation, mask wearing, and physical distancing must be followed. Meetings with office staff can be only be arranged by appointment during office hours; office space must be respected at all other times.
Numbers of users will be restricted to a maximum of 34 to ensure adequate physical distancing and seating has been adjusted accordingly and should not be changed. Users are required to bring their own mask, which must be worn when interacting with others. A distance between people of at least 1.5m must be maintained at all times.
Please contact the library personnel for more details regarding safety measures.