Five ‘Red’ Areas in Greece See Stricter Covid-19 Measures

Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias.

Stricter lockdown measures will be imposed to the municipalities of Patra (Peloponnese), Thira (Santorini), Mykonos, Halkida (Evia) and Agios Nikolaos (Crete), to contain the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), according to Greek Civil Protection Deputy Minister Nikos Hardalias.

Speaking to the media during Friday’s Covid-19 briefing, Hardalias said the epidemiological burden of the already “red” five areas is “particularly worrying” and therefore Greece’s health committee has called for extra emergency measures to be enforced.

Stricter measures

As of Saturday, February 6, the following extra measures will apply in the five areas:

– The operation of retail stores, hairdressers, barbershops, beauty salons, vehicle inspection services (KTEO) and OPAP betting shops is suspended.

– Only supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies will be open.

– All schools will be closed. Only kindergartens will remain open in Thira and Mykonos.

– Movement to and from the five municipalities is limited and only allowed for work purposes.

– Courthouses will remain closed.

– People are not allowed to attend services at places of worship, with the exception of attending funerals and practicing individual prayer.

– Construction activities are suspended for 15 days.

An evening/night curfew from 6 pm to 5 am is imposed on all “red” areas in Greece (only on weekends for Attica, Thessaloniki and Halkidiki).

Moreover, Hardalias announced that the municipalities of Rethymno (Crete), Pydna-Kolindros (Pieria, Central Macedonia), Dirfys-Messapia (Evia), Andravida-Kyllini (western Greece) and Tempi (Thessaly) will enter Level B-red (high-risk areas/strict measures) status of the coronavirus risk-assessment map.

Other areas in Greece that are already in “red” status include the municipalities of Eordaia (Kozani), Thiva and Tanagra (Viotia), Sparti (Lakonia), Zakynthos and Lesvos.

It is noted that separate measures have been announced for Attica, Thessaloniki and Halkdiki, which also have “red” Covid-19 status.

The basic Covid-19 lockdown and health rules are still in place for all areas in Greece, regardless of their risk status. These include mask wearing in all public places, requesting permission for outside movement (during the hours beyond curfew) for specific reasons by sending an SMS to the five-digit mobile phone service 13033 and not being allowed to travel between prefectures (inter-regional travel).

Greek health authorities on Friday announced 1,195 new coronavirus cases and 19 deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, the total number of cases in the country has reached 162,107. The Covid-19 death toll in Greece is 5,922.