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Greece Eases Some Covid-19 Lockdown Restrictions
Posted On 19 Mar 2021
Tag: Akis Skertsos, Amphipoli, color-coded risk-assessment map, Coronavirus, Covid-19, free Covid-19 rapid tests, Greece beauty salons, Greece Covid-19 Lockdown Restrictions, Greece Covid-19 map, Greece Covid-19 rapid tests, Greece dark red Covid-19 areas, Greece ease restrictions, Greece fishing, Greece hair salons, Greece lockdown, Greece open archaeological sites, Greece public parks, Greece red Covid-19 areas, Greece SMS movement system, Karditsa, Kastoria, Leros, Mykonos, Nikos Hardalias, Zakynthos
Aiming to reduce lockdown fatigue and gradually reopen the economy, the Greek government will ease a few lockdown measures imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
As announced by officials during Friday’s Covid-19 media briefing, from Saturday, March 20, the country’s night curfew will be in force from 9pm until 5am for the whole country, seven days a week, regardless of what risk levels areas have on the country’s coronavirus risk-assessment map.
Moreover, as of Monday, March 22, hair and beauty salons will re-open and can service customers only by appointment and by following strict social distancing rules. To visit a hair or beauty salon, people must send an SMS for option “code 6” to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033.
Also as of March 22, open-air archaeological sites and public parks will re-open to the public, and fishing (either from land or on a small boat) will be allowed for residents of coastal municipalities.
Photo © GTP
It is noted that people can visit archaeological sites and public parks by requesting permission for movement (on foot) by sending an SMS for option “code 6” to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033.
Those who want to go fishing will also have to send an SMS for option “code 6” to request permission.
Churches will also reopen for services on March 21, on March 25 and on March 26. Only 20 people will be allowed in churches at the same time.
Free Covid-19 rapid tests for all
Photo source: Region of Attica
In addition, at the end of March, people will be able to take a free Covid 19 rapid test, once every week at pharmacies (AMKA social security number is required).
According to Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Akis Skertsos, by offering free rapid tests to the public through their local pharmacies, more people will be tested and the government will be able to form a better picture of Greece’s epidemiological situation, which will help in taking decisions for easing further lockdown restrictions in April.
6 more areas go ‘dark red’ on Covid-19 map
During the same briefing, Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias announced that six more areas in Greece have moved to Covid-19 ‘dark red’ level (very high-risk) on the country’s coronavirus risk-assessment map, due to a rise in cases.
As of Saturday, March 20, the regional units of Mykonos and Zakynthos; the municipality of Amphipoli (of the regional unit of Serres), the municipalities of Kastoria and Orestidos (of the regional unit of Kastoria), the municipality of Karditsa; and the municipality of Leros (of the regional unit of Kalymnos) will be in a stricter lockdown.
Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias.
On the other hand, due to a drop in Covid-19 cases, the regional units of Fokida, Samos, Arta and Lefkada, and the municipality of Rhodes, will move to ‘red’ status (high-risk) on Greece’s risk-assessment map.
For further information (in Greek) on the restrictive measures in ‘red’ and ‘dark red’ areas, press here. The map is updated every week.
Greek health authorities on Friday announced 2,785 new coronavirus cases – 1,281 found in Athens-Attica alone – and 64 deaths.
Since the start of the pandemic, the total number of cases in the country has reached 233,079. The Covid-19 death toll in Greece is 7,361.
Why are hairdressers and barbers not required to be vaccinated? Seems that more weight is put on food service workers while salon workers and barbers are in closer contact with customers putting them in greater danger from Delta variant even with masking requirements. When will this be changed as there has been no mention in media?
I fully understand the need for the restrictions, HOWEVER, why is it ok for me to go fishing in a small boat, visit a park or ancient ruins, get my haircut or go to church, BUT I cannot go to my lawyer, accountant or real estate agent to sort out my house purchase where contact is minimal!
Also, why is it that the information seems to come from Facebook groups – each with their own personal twists – or copied from another source – usually not identified, but not anywhere on the Greek Government Websites!
Now I know there will probably be some replies about me being a foreigner, not speaking Greek, etc. and I accept that to a certain extent, however, if we had accurate information or sources that would help us have actual information, that would help us, foreigners, to do the right thing.
Hello Paul
Please know that all information included in our articles are based on official sources. And we are not a Facebook group, nor do we add twists to our articles.
With regard to the article you are commenting on, the information was announced by government officials during last Friday’s Covid-19 media briefing on Greek public broadcaster ERT.
You should also know that anything announced during the Covid-19 media briefings can later be found (in Greek) on the website of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.
Hello.
I apologise if it came across that your article was misleading, that was not my intention. I always look at your news releases everyday and find them most informative.
I was referring in general to the fact it is difficult to find concrete information, even looking at the Greek Government sites. When I looked on the EODY COVID 19 site the other day, all I could find was information relating to the updated number of cases, and a post from April last year about restrictions in place!
Perhaps a link to the source could be conisdered in any article, at least then we could refer people to it when they start blabbing on their oh so important Facebook groups – not yours!
Once again, apologies if I offended, that was not my intention.
Please keep up the good work!
Paul Foster
A positive test does not mean you are ill, the UK Government has a guideline of 37 cycles before a test is Negative, scientists say over 25 cycles there in no infection or spread, so many of the cases are false positives. Here i Northern Ireland in 15 months 5.7% of the population tested, Covid related Deaths 0.1% and we are still in lock down, those figures we should be back to Normal.