Athens Sprays Streets to Curb Coronavirus Spread

The Municipality of Athens announced this week that special squads would be carrying out disinfection of the city’s streets and squares in efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 as hundreds of Athenians return from their holidays.

According to the disinfection program announced by Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis, municipal squads will be spraying the city center and neighborhoods daily starting this week early in the morning and late at night.

Aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly virus, the city’s sanitation units will be carrying out mass disinfections based on a weekly program across Athens’ seven districts based on population density and popularity, and will include squares as well as high-risk areas ie hospitals, supermarkets etc.

City employees carrying out the sanitation actions will be equipped with special uniforms gloves, masks, and protective gear.

“We are intensifying disinfection operations throughout the city… We are boosting our sanitation system so that Athens continues to be safe in all its public spaces,” said Bakoyiannis.

It should be noted that on the back of rising Covid-19 cases in Greece, health experts are now concerned about returning holidaymakers to urban centers and about the re-opening of schools.

Last week, infectious diseases expert and member of the Covid-19 committee Nikolaos Sipsas confirmed that the return of holidaymakers to their homes in the city may increase the risk of higher Covid-19 infection rates.

“The return of vacationers from tourist destinations means an increase in cases in urban centers,” he said.

Greece reported 217 new cases on Sunday, bringing the country total to 7,075 and two Covid-19 related deaths to 228 in total.