Greece May Make Mask-wearing Mandatory in More Indoor Public Places

The Greek government may make mask-wearing mandatory in more indoor public places, in the coming days, if deemed necessary by medical experts to limit the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

Greece on late Sunday extended the rule – until August 4 – on wearing face masks in all Greek supermarkets by staff and customers.

Due to complacency of the public and sometimes non-compliance with rules that has led to instances of overcrowding, the government is now considering to make mask-wearing mandatory in other indoor spaces – such as churches – that tend to attract large crowds of people.

In a press briefing on Monday, Government Spokesman Stelios Petsas urged the public against complacency.

“While the number of cases arriving from abroad is under control, the main enemy remains in the country and is called complacency,” Petsas said, pointing out “unacceptable” cases of overcrowding.

Greek Government Spokesman Stelios Petsas.

The government’s spokesman said that Covid-19 cases have increased in recent days in urban centers, especially in Athens and Thessaloniki, which shows that “the virus is here and feeds on our complacency.”

However, despite the small increase in coronavirus cases, Petsas said that Greece remains in a better epidemiological situation than many other countries.

“Τhis is not by chance, but a result of our strategy,” he stressed referring to the special algorithm that helps Greek authorities decide how targeted checks at the country’s entry points should be carried out, which allows effective monitoring and tracking of cases to prevent the coronavirus from spreading to the community.

“Other countries do not do all this at all or in their entirety,” Petsas said, adding that the government will do whatever is necessary for Greece to remain a safe country for both residents and visitors.

To see where it it compulsory in Greece for all to wear face masks press here.

Until late Sunday, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Greece was at 4,193, with 202 deaths.