Greece Moves More Areas to Covid-19 Level 3 ‘Orange’ Alert

Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias.

Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias on Thursday announced that nine regional units will move to Covid-19 ‘orange’ risk Level 3 (increased monitoring) on the country’s risk-assessment map as of 6am, Friday, October 30.

The regional units that will move to ‘orange’ status from ‘yellow’ (Level 2) are: Pella, Evros, Xanthi, Halkidiki, Kavala, Kilkis, Pieria and Imathia. Drama moves to ‘orange’ status from ‘green’ (Level 1).

“Dealing with the second wave of the pandemic requires preparedness, vigilance and immediate action. Especially in this phase as the data constantly changes and cases are increasing faster, it is necessary for our strategy to be adjusted accordingly,” Hardalias said during an emergency briefing.

The deputy minister added that the regional units of Arcadia and Messinia will also change status from ‘green’ to ‘yellow’.

Thessaloniki, Rodopi and Larissa go ‘red’ on Friday

Covid-19 testing in Thessaloniki. Photo source: National Public Health Organization (EODY)

Following the announcement that Thessaloniki, Rodopi and Larissa will officially move to Covid-19 ‘red’ risk Level 4 (strict measures), Hardalias said the status change will take place on Friday at 6 am. Thessaloniki currently has 1,955 confirmed cases, Rodopi has 217 and Larissa has 343.

According to the deputy minister, all announced measures for ‘red’ areas will apply as of Friday to Thessaloniki, Rodopi and Larissa, except for the restrictions relating to land, sea and air connections, as well as to travel to/from the specific regional units.

The restrictions relating to travel will go in force as of 6am, Monday, November 2.

Hardalias added that the government will soon re-evaluate the issue of travel for all areas at Level 4.

With Thessaloniki, Rodopi and Larissa moving up to Level 4, Greece will have seven areas placed in ‘red’ status, along with Ioannina, Serres, Kozani and Kastoria.

Due to the increase in the rate of Covid-19 infections in Greece, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis will address the nation on Friday and present new measures.

The National Public Health Organization (EODY) on Thursday reported 1,211 new Covid-19 cases, raising the total number to 35,510 in Greece. The death toll is at 615.

For ‘orange’ and ‘red’ areas 

The risk-assessment map allows citizens to track the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Greece and stay up to date with the safety measures by regional unit.

It is reminded that citizens in all regional units that appear as high risk (levels 3-orange and 4-red) on the country’s risk-assessment map must now follow two new measures:

– wear masks everywhere in public (indoors and outdoors)
– stay indoors between 12:30am and 5:00 am (late night curfew)

The online risk-assessment map is in Greek and can be found here.

The risk level of a regional unit can be found on the map by selecting it from a list, by inserting a postal code, or by pressing on a destination.

Some of the measures that apply to regional areas, according to their risk level, can be found here (in English).