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Covid-19: Greece Divided into Red and Yellow Risk Zones, Measures Announced

UPDATE – February 19: A third level (dark red) was added to Greece’s risk-assessment map. Level C-Dark Red indicates ‘very high-risk’ areas in strict lockdowns.

Greek authorities are re-activating the country’s color-coded risk-assessment map, giving areas a coronavirus (Covid-19) risk rating of yellow or red.

The announcement was made during the Covid-19 Friday media briefing by Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias.

The decision to once again divide the country into color-coded risk zones was made by the givernment following the recent rise in Covid-19 cases is certain areas of the country, with Athens (Attica) and Piraeus being at the top of the list with a total of 2,597 active cases (at the time of the briefing).

As before, the Covid-19 map shows the degree of risk in regions (and municipalities), indicated by two color-coded levels that are based on the epidemiological burden of each area:

Level A – Monitored areas – Color: YELLOW
Level B – High-risk areas – Color: RED, which includes the areas where stricter lockdown measures have been imposed.

UPDATE (February 19): A Level C – COLOR: Dark Red was added to the map and indicates ‘very high-risk’ areas that are in strict lockdowns. 

The map enables citizens to track the spread of the coronavirus in the country and keep up to date with health and safety measures in areas.

The color-coded risk-assessment map will be in force from January 30.

During the briefing, Hardalias announced which areas in Greece will remain in red status (below) until February 8 (when further announcements will be made). Citizens in red areas must follow emergency lockdown measures, including a stricter curfew banning movement from 6pm until 5am.

Common measures

Greek Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis and Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias. Photo source: Ministry of Development and Investment

The following common measures are in force for citizens in areas of both levels:

Mask wearing in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.
A 24-hour restriction on movement is enforced with exceptions. Outside movement is allowed only for six specific reasons and by sending an SMS to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033.
– Private businesses and public services should operate with the minimum amount of staff possible (either by rotation and through teleworking) both in the public and private sectors.
Distance learning in higher education institutions (universities).
– Kindergartens, primary schools and all special education schools of all levels will remain open.
– Supreme courts and special courts are in operation.
– Matches of Super League 1 & 2 and Basketball League will take place as scheduled.

It is reminded that movement between Greek prefectures (domestic travel) continues to be banned (except for health and work reasons).

Covid-19 measures according to risk level

‘Yellow’ areas

Greece’s Level A (yellow) areas are: Etoloakarnania, Andros, Argolida, Arkadia, Arta, Achaia, Viotia, Grevena, Drama, Evros, Evia, Evritania, Zakynthos, Ilia, Imathia, Heraklion (Crete), Thassos, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Santorini, Ithaki, Ikaria, Ioannina, Kavala, Kalymnos, Karditsa, Karpathos-Kasos, Kea-Kythnos, Corfu, Keflonia, Kilkis, Kozani, Corinth, Kos, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkada, Lemnos, Magnesia, Messinia, Milos, Naxos, Attica islands, Xanthi, Paros, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethymno, Rodopi, Rhodes, Samos, Serres, Sporades islands, Syros, Tinos, Trikala, Fthiotida, Florina, Fokida, Halkidiki, Chania, Chios.

The following applies to the country’s ‘yellow’ areas:

– Night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am.
– Middle schools (gymnasium) and high schools (lyceum) will re-open on February 1.
– Churches and other places of worship are open with restrictions: only 25 people are allowed in churches at the same time and up to 50 people in Metropolitan.
Shopping: Retail stores, hairdressers, barbershops, beauty salons, diet services, vehicle inspection services (KTEO), OPAP betting shops (except OPAP play stores) will operate as previously under social distancing measures (1 person allowed per 25 sq.m.).
Consumers can shop only by sending an SMS (option 2) to 13033 or by having a handwritten movement certificate with them while shopping. All consumers must keep the SMS as proof of permission for movement and must show it to authorities upon request.
Movement to shop will last two hours, beginning from the time of sending (and approval) of the SMS for movement.

‘Red’ areas

Greece’s Level B (red) areas are: East Attica, Patra (Achaia), Municipalities of Thiva and Tanagra (Viotia), Halkida and Roma settlement in the Distion municipal area of the Municipality of Kymi-Aliveri (Evia), North Sector of Athens, West Attica, West Sector of Athens, Municipality of Thira (Santorini), Eordaia Municipality (Kozani), Municipality of Sparti (Lakonia), Central Sector of Athens, Lesvos, Mykonos, South Sector of Athens, Piraeus, Municipality of Neas Propantidas (Halkidiki).

The following applies to the country’s ‘red’ areas:

Evening/night curfew from 6 pm to 5 am. (Attica is the only area of red status where the curfew is from 9pm to 5 am due to increased population.)
Only middle schools (gymnasium) will re-open on February 1 (high school students will continue their lessons via tele-education)
– Only 9 people are allowed to attend mass at churches and or services as other places of worship.
Shopping is only allowed by the “click-away” method (consumers must make their orders online or by phone and can pick up their purchases outside of stores). Only clothing, footwear stores and bookstores are allowed to have customers enter their premises through the new method of “click in a shop” (by appointments). It is reminded that – as in “yellow” areas – consumers can shop only by sending an SMS (option 2) to 13033.
– Hairdressers, barbershops, beauty salons and vehicle inspection services (KTEO) in “red” areas can service customers only by appointment.

Greece’s online risk-assessment map will be updated by authorities in cooperation with the country’s special committee of infectious disease specialists. Updates will take place at any period deemed required according to the epidemiological indicators of an area.

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.

For further information (in Greek) on the coronavirus risk-assessment map press here.

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About the Author
Nikos is Greek-American born in New York, USA, and has lived in Greece for over 30 years. He is the managing editor of Greece's leading monthly travel and tourism guide, the Greek Travel Pages (GTP) since June 2008 and of news site GTP Headlines since its launch in September 2012. Nikos has also served as international press officer for the City of Athens and for the mayor. He has a degree in Mass Media and Communications, specializing in Journalism. Nikos is a native English speaker and speaks Greek fluently.
  1. henri Reply

    Hello,
    in yellow/orange zone can you drive freely and hike?

  2. Anna Stephanou Reply

    You have placed Santorini in both red and yellow. Which is it!?

    • GTP editing team Reply

      According to the information announced, Santorini as an island is a “yellow” area except the Municipality of Thira which is a “red” area.

  3. David Kerr Reply

    Can someone please give me a logical reason why Athens, with the large population and hence greater risk, is a Red area but only suffers a 9:00pm curfew?

    • Kostas Reply

      Because in Athens coronavirus spreads between 9pm and 5am, while in other areas it starts spreading from 6pm. Don’t you dare question the geniuses from government!

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