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Ios May Be Greece’s Next Island to See Strict Covid-19 Measures
Posted On 28 Jul 2021
Ios Island, Cyclades.
Greek Citizen Protection Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis on Wednesday warned that strict measures may have to be imposed on Ios following an escalation of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases on the island.
Speaking to SKAI radio station, the minister said that more than 30 police officers will be transfered to Ios from Attica tomorrow in order to better control the situation.
According to the minister, professionals on the island are not following the country’s health and safety measures to the fullest.
Regarding what measures would be imposed, the minister did not go into specifics. However, it is expected for them to be similar to those imposed for 10 days recently on Mykonos (overnight curfew and 24-hour music ban).
Mykonos
Although the Covid-19 restrictive measures on Mykonos have been lifted, reports say that the so-called “corona parties” – which have been blamed for spreading the virus on the island – are still secretly taking place.
Minister Chrysohoidis told SKAI that some of the parties are private gatherings while others are (private) paid events. In any case, the minister said the parties were “criminal acts” that were leading to the spread of Covid-19.
On Monday, Chrysohoidis said that efforts will be made to crack down on the private parties held in villas on Mykonos.
It’s not surprising Ios has so many new cases. Whilst the residents are nearly 100% double vaccinated and those in shops and restaurants are following the guidelines many of the tourists to the island are in the late teens early 20s age group. The main area for the young tourists to hang out is around Myloplatus which has many many bars etc where music is played until early morning. Other parts of the island are strict about face coverings being worn especially on the buses.
There seems to be a new trend on the island with face masks being worn on the elbow whilst not in use on the face. The hoards of young people arriving and leaving by ferry is astronomical, so something needs to be done about correct face covering, hand sanitizer and having some kind of curfew after midnight for all on the island. Hand sanitizer is readily available on all restaurant and cafe tables, everyone needs to use it.
Its a case of the minority ruining it for the majority. However, in this case it is deadly serious. They are not only risking their lives, they are risking the lives and livelihoods of the people who reside on the islands. Some young people have no regard or respect for others as long as they are enjoying themselves. Please young people think about what you are doing.
I was in Ios at the beginning of July and this was an situation waiting to happen even then. The island was filling up with younger people who clearly did not give a dam about anyone other than themselves