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Greece Keeps Masks Outdoors in Fight Against Covid-19

Photo source: City of Athens

Mask-wearing in all public spaces and outdoors is mandatory in Greece after the country’s Covid-19 committee decided to postpone its decision on the matter this week.

The committee will re-examine the issue next week.

Topping the agenda instead were health protocols to be implemented ahead of the country’s official opening to tourists in March, as well as passenger caps on buses and limits in public services. The committee also recommended allowing trips for seniors’ clubs (KAPI) only for the vaccinated. 

Covid experts said they decided to continue the mask rule in view of potential Covid variants. Speaking to public television ERT, Professor of Internal Medicine Helen Giamarellou said it was too early to do away with the mask. “We will monitor the situation and decide,” she said.

Chairman of the Greek Medical Association Athanasios Exadaktylos said he expected the measure (for outdoor spaces only) to be lifted after Clean Monday (March 7), adding however that in any case crowded spaces require masks and that it was “erroneous to think of mask wearing outdoors as not being useful”. 

Photo source: eea.gr

Photo source: eea.gr

The majority of health experts are concerned about lifting measures too early for fear it would send out a wrong message, particularly ahead of popular holidays such as Carnival, Easter, and the March 25th national holiday.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Thanos Plevris reiterated that authorities were aiming to lift Covid-19 measures by the end of March but only for those who are vaccinated, adding again however that “the pandemic has not ended”.

“I believe that by the end of March, measures that apply to the vaccinated will have been lifted. Some precautions, such as mask use and safe distancing, will continue to apply. For those who are not vaccinated, the measures will remain,” he said.

It should be reminded that unvaccinated individuals cannot enter bars, restaurants and entertainment venues and are allowed access only to establishments operating outdoors as long as they provide a negative rapid test. They are also banned from stadiums, theaters, cinemas, museums, conferences and gyms.

In the last 24-hour period, Greece’s national public health organization reported 16,962 new Covid cases and 53 deaths.

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  1. Radha Ashton Reply

    Absolutely agree with Mr Ferguson.
    Shame on the government and its
    politicians causing such divide, fining
    100 euros monthly to their unvaccinated
    seniors. Coercing the youngsters to
    get vaccinated. Not allowing the
    unvaccinated to work!!! And yet desperate
    to promote tourism. How terribly sad for
    this once vibrant country and people.
    Congratulations to Mr Mitsutakis and his
    cronies for destroying the unique spirit of Greek
    culture.

  2. DOBIGNY Reply

    I liked the verb “banned”, the unvaccinated, less dangerous than the vaccinated are therefore, like in France, excluded from normal life
    the WHO published a report along these lines, why this obstinacy in “democracies” to divide people?
    just money to distribute generously to pharmaceutical laboratories

  3. T Ferguson Reply

    Unvaccinated discriminated again, vaccinated people can still catch the virus ( if its there) spread the virus, its proven that the vaccinations have not worked or lasted, young people and others have died and been injured.
    I can see no logic in the discrimination against unvaccinated i am not anti – vaccine i have had many over the years. But i refuse these vaccines because they were rushed i will not add to the billions big Pharma has made.

  4. T Ferguson Reply

    You are making fools of yourselves covid has gone, mass protests around the World thousands of people close together, no increase of Cases, no increase in deaths, no increases in ICU’s, Omicron killed it, give your people back their freedom. I want to go on my three weeks holiday to your country, i do not want to be restricted. We supported Greece for two years paid a lot of money for tests, spent six weeks in Crete & two weeks in Kos over the two years, time to get back to normal.

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