Attica Enters ‘Red’ Covid-19 Status, Retail Sees Restrictions

Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Athens University Vana Papaevaggelou, Greek Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis and Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias. Photo source: Ministry of Development and Investment

With a 45 percent rise in new coronavirus infections in just one week, the Greek government’s Covid-19 health committee has advised for Attica to be placed in “red” status and for stricter measures to be imposed mainly on the retail sector.

Speaking to the media during the Covid-19 briefing on Friday, Vana Papaevaggelou, infectious diseases specialist and member of the Covid-19 health committee, said that “all eyes are now on Attica”, as in the last week, the region’s epidemiological situation took an unpleasant turn. Attica is Greece’s largest region.

“Although we had observed a slightly increased epidemiological burden, mainly in west Attica and the central sector of Athens for about three weeks, these past seven days we saw a clear rise in cases in all areas of Attica, in most neighborhoods of Athens,” she said.

Papaevaggelou stressed that compared to the previous week, a 45 percent increase in new coronavirus cases was recorded in Attica as well as a rise in hospital admissions and ICU patients.

“Understanding the critical state of the pandemic situation in Greece at the moment, the committee has advised for any movement associated with the (recent) opening of retail in ‘red’ areas to be reduced,” she said.

Attica turns ‘red’ on January 30

During the Covid-19 briefing, Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias informed that Attica will be placed at Level B-red (strict measures) on the re-activated color-coded risk-assessment map as of 6am on Saturday, January 30.

Stricter measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus are imposed on all areas of Greece that are in “red” status.

Regarding Attica specifically, the stricter measures concern almost the whole region (regional units of central, north, south and west sectors of Athens, west and east Attica) where 2,597 active Covid-19 cases have been recorded according to the latest data. It is noted that the islands that belong to the region of Attica are not in “red” status.

Strict curfew for red areas

A stricter curfew is in place for “red” areas with movement banned from 6 pm to 5 am. However, Hardalias clarified that Attica is the only area of “red” status where the curfew will be from 9pm to 5 am due to the region’s increased population.

It is reminded that the basic Covid-19 lockdown and health rules are still in place for “red” areas. These include mask wearing in all public places, requesting permission for outside movement (during the hours beyond the curfew) for specific reasons by sending an SMS to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033 and not being allowed to travel between prefectures (inter-regional travel).

Shopping via “click-away” and “click in a shop”

Photo source: Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

During the briefing, Hardalias and Greek Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis announced the measures that will be imposed on the country’s “red” areas, which include mainly stricter restrictions for retail stores.

Having just opened on January 18 for consumers to shop in person, retail stores in “red” areas will now be allowed to serve the public only via the “click-away” and “click in a shop” methods.

The “click-away” method sees consumers making online or phone orders and picking up their purchases only outside of stores.

Minister Georgiadis announced that the only stores that can let customers inside to shop in person, will be those selling clothes and shoes. Dubbed “click in a shop”, the method sees consumers making appointments in advance to enter retail stores. The “click in a shop” method allows only a limited number of consumers in a store at the same time.

Bookstores in “red” areas can also operate via the “click in a shop” method.

Photo source: Athens Traders Association

Moreover, hairdressers, barbershops, beauty salons and vehicle inspection services (KTEO) in “red” areas can only service customers by prearranged appointments.

Also, high schools in “red” areas will not re-open as planned. Only middle schools (known as gymnasia in Greek) will open their doors on February 1. (Kindergartens and primary schools will remain open to students.)

Besides Attica, other areas in Greece in “red” status are Patra, Halkida, Lesvos and Mykonos, among others.

Information on Greece’s Covid-19 color-coded map that give areas a risk rating of “yellow” or “red” can be found here.

Greek health authorities on Friday announced 941 new coronavirus cases and 22 deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, the total number of cases in the country has reached 155,678. The Covid-19 death toll in Greece is 5,764.