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Greece Announces Extra Covid-19 Measures as Infections Rise

Deputy Civil Protection & Crisis Management Minister Nikos Hardalias.

Aiming to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Greece, the country’s deputy crisis management minister, Nikos Hardalias, announced a series a new precautionary measures on Friday, including extra restrictions for the islands of Paros and Antiparos.

On the back of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ appeal to the younger generations to take heed of the measures earlier on Friday, Hardalias said the ministry had also decided to beef up inspections and hand out fines to ensure adherence.

More specifically, according to Hardalias the following measures apply from August 17 and through to August 24:

  • a 50-person cap at public events in affected areas, with the exception of activities and events where special rules apply such as restaurants, theaters, cinemas etc
  • restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues in Attica, which includes Athens, the Saronic Gulf and Kythira islands, close at midnight through to 7am. The measure also applies to the regions of Crete, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Larissa, Corfu, Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Volos, Katerini, Rhodes, Antiparos. Zakynthos and Kos
  • emergency restrictions already imposed on Poros island will be extended to August 24 – bars, clubs and restaurants will be required to close at midnight (from the current 11pm curfew)
  • masks are mandatory in army barracks, social solidarity structures, and in refugee and migrant recepition and accommodation facilities
  • staff on holiday leave returning to work at care facilities, nursing homes, military camps, social solidarity structures, and refugee and migrant accommodation facilities will be required to undergo Covid-19 testing prior to work
  • holidaymakers returning to their homes are strongly advised to wear masks at all times for a week in all public and private enclosed areas and in public when social distancing is not possible.
  • public or private sector employees who are considered vulnerable and at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19, as of August 31 will be able to choose to work from home or from the back office
Photo © Region of South Aegean

Paros, Naoussa bay.

Restrictions on Paros and Antiparos

As of 6am on Saturday 15 August to August 24 for the islands of Paros and Antiparos:

  • all public events have been canceled
  • a maximum of nine people at each gathering, in public or private space
  • a maximum of four people at each table – six if they are first-degree relatives.

Antiparos beach house. Photo ©Maria Theofanopoulou

Attica cultural events canceled

In the meantime, the Attica regional authority has canceled all cultural events starting today through to August 31 in its regional divisions: Central Athens, Southern Athens, Northern Athens, Western Athens, Piraeus, Saronic Islands, Western Attica and Eastern Attica.

Attica regional authorities also announced on Thursday that random testing will conducted on travelers returning from the islands at the ports of Piraeus and Rafina on Sunday 16 August.

At the same time, in efforts to raise awareness, the region will be launching an information campaign at both ports aimed at underlining the importance of maintaining hygiene and social distancing measures by returning vacationers so as to protect older or more vulnerable family members.

On Thursday, Greece reported five deaths from Covid-19 in the 24-hour period bringing the total death toll to 221.

*ATTENTION: All measures and guidelines reported have been obtained by the National Public Health Organization (EODY) or from ministry announcements and are subject to change based on the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, government decisions, and European Union directives.

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