Greece Keeps Covid-19 Restrictions in Place for Another Week

The Greek Health Ministry’s committee of experts for Covid-19 on Wednesday evening decide to extend the measures against the spread of the coronavirus for another week.

Speaking earlier on public broadcaster ERT, Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris said that the Omicron peak happened much earlier than expected and that there is “tremendous pressure” on the National Health System due to the Delta variant.

The minister said there was a great concern about the phenomenon and therefore “it makes sense” for the measures to be extended in order to monitor the situation.

The measures, in place since December 30 and which were expected to be lifted this Sunday after a second extension, will remain in effect until January 31.

Greek Health Minister Thanos Plevris.

Following are the Covid-19 measures that have been extended in Greece:

– Increased protection masks (KN95/FFP2) or double masks are mandatory for workers in F&B establishments and hospitals, as well as for people using public transport and shoppers in supermarkets.

– Entertainment venues (restaurants, cafes and bars) close at midnight. They are open only for vaccinated customers who must be seated (standing customers are not allowed). A maximum of 6 people may sit at a table.

– Music is banned at all entertainment venues.

– Organized parties in public or private spaces are banned.

– Sports stadiums are allowed to operate at only 10 percent capacity, with a cap on 1,000 spectators.

– Visitors at hospitals and nursing homes must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test performed at least 48 hours earlier.

– Teleworking (by 50 percent) for staff in both public and private sectors. Staggered shifts (employees will start work at different times) continue in both sectors.

The measures are expected to be reviewed next week and a decision will be made with regard to the music ban and the current midnight curfew imposed on restaurants, cafes and bars.

Greek health authorities on Wednesday announced 20,107 new coronavirus cases, 683 patients on ventilators (81.55 percent are unvaccinated) and 88 deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, the total number of cases in the country has reached 1,723,496. The Covid-19 death toll in Greece is 22,285.