Greece Announces Masks Everywhere, Late Night Curfew as Covid-19 Cases Surge

Clarifications for the new rules can be found here.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday announced two new rules amid rising coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Greece.

Addressing the Greek public in national broadcast, PM Mitsotakis directed citizens in areas designated as high risk (levels 3-orange and 4-red) to wear masks everywhere and announced a late night curfew for those areas.

The new rules will be put into effect as of Saturday, October 24, from 6am.

“The coming months are forecast to be difficult and since a general lockdown is not my choice, other measures are required: smarter, more targeted and more efficient measures,” the PM said.

The late night curfew will be in force between 12:30am and 5:00 am and imposed in all areas that appear as high risk (levels 3-orange and 4-red) on the country’s risk-assessment map.

Masks are mandatory in all indoor and outdoor spaces that appear as high risk (levels 3-orange and 4-red).

Exempt from the measure are those who work at night and emergencies.

Greece’s current high-risk areas

The regional unit of Kozani is currently at Level 4. As of Friday, Kastoria will be added to the “red” list.

At Level 3 (orange) are Attica, Achaia, Zakynthos, Heraklion, Thira, Ioannina, Karditsa, Kea-Kythnos, Lesvos, Mykonos, Pella, Samos and Trikala.

Also, as of Friday, Thessaloniki, Viotia, Larissa and Serres, will move up to the orange level.

Masks are now compulsory in ‘orange’ and ‘red’ areas

Moreover, the PM said that wearing face masks is now mandatory in all public spaces in areas that appear as high risk (levels 3-orange and 4-red).

“Not only indoors but also outdoors. Because the coronavirus lurks everywhere and does not wait at the door,” he said.

Masks must also be worn at restaurants, bars and cafes and can be removed only when sitting at a table. Standing in the specific indoor establishments remains banned.

The prime minister added that checks will be strengthened in all areas to ascertain that the new rules are being followed. Violators will be fined.

“Store owners who do not comply and employers who do not protect their employees will be punished,” he said, adding that teleworking will expand further in Greece, where possible.

Greek health authorities on Thursday announced 882 new coronavirus cases. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Greece has reached 28,216, with the death toll at 549.