Greece Changes Covid-19 Risk Map, Sets New Rules for November

UPDATE – Monday, 13:30: A third level (grey) was added to Greece’s risk-assessment map. Level C-Grey indicates areas in local lockdowns.

The new measures will be in force as of Tuesday, November 3.

Changes have been made to Greece’s color-coded risk-assessment map that enables citizens to track the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country and keep up to date with the latest safety restrictions in areas.

Greece’s Covid-19 alert system for all 74 regional units now depends on the degree of risk that is indicated by three color-coded levels (from four color-coded levels previously):

Level A – Monitoring – Color: YELLOW (previous green and yellow areas on the risk-assessment map)
Level B – High-risk – Color: RED (previous orange and red areas on the risk-assessment map)

UPDATE (Monday, November 2): A Level C – COLOR: Grey was added to the map and indicates areas that are in local lockdowns. 

New measures, which will be in force for one month, have been applied to the country’s ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ areas. The measures announced for ‘grey’ areas will be in force for two weeks.

As of Tuesday, 3 November, 46 Greek regional units will be listed in the ‘yellow’ level, 26 will have ‘red’ status and 2 will be ‘grey’:

Level A – Yellow: Etoloakarnania, Andros, Argolida, Arcadia, Arta, Achaia, Grevena, Evia, Evritania, Zakynthos, Ilia, Heraklion, Thasas, Thesprotia, Ithaki, Ikaria, Kalymnos, Karditsa, Karpathos-Kasos, Kea-Kythnos, Corfu, Kefallonia, Corinth, Kos, Laconia, Lassithi, Lesvos, Lefkada, Lemnos, Messinia, Milos, Mykonos, Attica Islands (except Salamina, which is in the red zone), Paros, Preveza, Rethymno, Rhodes, Samos, Sporades, Syros, Tinos, Fthiotida, Florina, Fokida, Chania, Chios.

Greece’s updated color-coded risk-assessment map. Source: covid19.gov.gr

Level B – Red: Attica (all regional units and Piraeus, except the nearby islands), Viotia, Drama, Evros, Imathia, Thira (Santorini), Ioannina, Kavala, Kastoria, Kilkis, Kozani, Larissa, Naxos (not Amorgos), Xanthi, Pella, Pieria, Rodopi, Trikala, Halkidiki, Magnesia.

Level C – Grey: Thessaloniki, Serres.

Common measures and rules for ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ levels

The following measures and rules will be in place for citizens in both risk zones for one month:

– Mandatory wearing of a mask everywhere in public (indoors and outdoors).
– Late night curfew from 12 midnight until 5am (with the exception of work and emergencies/health reasons).
– Mandatory wearing of a mask when boarding and while traveling on any means of public transport.
– Mandatory teleworking for 50 percent of employees both in the public and private sectors.
– University lessons will take place only via tele-education (with the exception of workshops of graduate students).
– Visits to nursing homes and other healthcare units are banned.

It is noted that retail shops, wholesale shops, schools, hotels, hairdressers and outdoor archaeological sites continue to operate in both risk zones.

Basic measures for ‘grey’ level (14-day duration)

– Mandatory wearing of a mask everywhere in public (indoors and outdoors).
– City residents will have to send an SMS message when they leave their homes.
– A curfew will be in place banning all circulation between 9pm and 5am with the exception of work- or health-related movement.
– All retail stores, including bars, cafes and restaurants as well as gyms and churches will be closed.
– Schools will remain open.
– University lessons will take place only via tele-education (with the exception of workshops of graduate students).
– All domestic/international flights and rail routes are suspended for at least two weeks.

Measures per ‘yellow’, ‘red’ and ‘grey’ risk level 

Following are changes to some of the measures that have been in force until now:

• Commute/travel by public transport, ferries, taxis and private cars:

Level A – Yellow
Public transport: 65 percent capacity
Ferries: 65 percent capacity
Taxis: Only three passengers are allowed (driver not included)
Private cars: No restriction

Level B – Red
Public transport: 65 percent capacity
Ferries: 65 percent capacity
Taxis: Only one passenger is allowed
Private cars: Only 3 people, including the driver, are allowed per private car (families are excluded from the rule)

Domestic travel is allowed in the country (travel from one region to another) for levels A and B.

Level C – Grey
Public transport: 65 percent capacity
Ferries: 65 percent capacity
Taxis: Only one passenger is allowed
Private cars: Only 2 people, including the driver, are allowed per private car (underaged children are excluded from the rule)

It is prohibited to travel out of the regional unit (air and rail travel abroad is suspended and allowed on domestic routes strictly for professional and health reasons).

• Restaurants

Level A – Yellow
– Masks must be worn by restaurant staff at all times, as well as by customers while waiting to be seated.
– Curfew: 11:30pm (take away and delivery services are excluded)
– Capacity: 50 percent
– Seating: 6 people are allowed at the same table.
– Distances between tables and seats apply according to previous rule.
– Live music is banned.

It is noted that there is a general ban in Greece on the sale of alcohol during the hours of 11:30pm-5am.

Level B – Red
– The operation of all restaurants is suspended, with the exception of take away and delivery services.

Level C – Grey
– The operation of all restaurants is suspended, with the exception of delivery services.

• Cafes, bars, banquet halls

Level A – Yellow
– Masks must be worn by staff at all times, as well as by customers while waiting to be seated. No standing is allowed.
– Curfew: 11:30pm
– Capacity: 50 percent
– Seating: 6 people are allowed at the same table.
– The distance between tables must be 1.8m.
– Live music is banned.

Level B – Red
– The operation of all cafes, bars, banquet halls and similar establishments is suspended.

Level C – Grey
– The operation of all cafes, bars, banquet halls and similar establishments is suspended.

• Public gatherings

Level A – Yellow
– Limit of 50 people, observing a distance of 1.5m between one another.

Level B – Red
– All gatherings are banned.

Level C – Grey
– All gatherings are banned.

• Conferences, exhibitions, events

Level A – Yellow
– 1 person per 10 sq.m. at least and up to 100 seats are allowed to be filled.
– All persons must maintain a distance of 1.5m between one another.

Level B – Red
– All conferences and exhibitions are suspended.

Level C – Grey
– All conferences and exhibitions are suspended.

• Museums

Level A – Yellow
– 2 meters distance must be kept between persons.
– 1 person per 15 sq.m.
– Group tours are allowed with up to 10 people.
– Everyone must wear a mask.

Level B – Red
– All museums will remain closed.

Level C – Grey
– All museums will remain closed.

• Archaeological sites

Level A – Yellow & Level B – Red
– Archaeological sites will remain open in both risk zones. A distance of 1.5 meters must be kept between persons.

Level C – Grey
– All archaeological sites will remain closed.

• Theaters, concerts and other performing arts

Level A – Yellow
– Capacity: 50 percent
– Entrance exclusively with an e-ticket.
– Performances of any kind are not allowed to be held in indoor stadiums and gyms.

Level B – Red
– All performances are suspended. Only virtual performances are allowed.

Level C – Grey
– All performances are suspended. Only virtual performances are allowed.

• Cinemas

Level A – Yellow
– Capacity: 50 percent
– Entrance exclusively with an e-ticket.

Level B – Red
– All cinemas will remain closed.

Level C – Grey
– All cinemas will remain closed.

• Schools

Level A – Yellow & Level B – Red
– Schools in both risk zones will remain open with the mandatory use of masks (for children from 4 years and over) in all areas.

Level C – Grey
– Schools of primary and secondary education remain open with the mandatory use of masks (for children from 4 years and over).
– Higher education (high school) students will attend tele-education sessions.

Measures and rules also apply (for both risk zones) for sports activities; gyms (will remain closed in red and grey areas); courthouses (closed in grey areas); Sunday open markets and neighborhood fairs (banned in red and grey areas); supermarkets and similar establishments; hairdressing salons and beauty parlors (closed in grey areas); refugee reception and identification centers; farmers markets (laiki); retail shops; rehearsals/filming of TV shows (suspended in grey areas), places of worship, playgrounds and hospitals.

For further information (in Greek), press here.