New changes to public life in Greece come into force amid COVID infections surge

Some of the measures introduced by the government have a very limited timespan, while others are relevant only to specific parts of the country

Amid rising numbers of COVID-19 infections in Greece, the government has begun introducing new measures aimed at halting the tide. Many of the new restrictions that have come in force will be in effect for a very limited period of time and are contained to specific areas, namely those that have seen a larger uptick in cases.

Protecting both people and businesses

Greek authorities were widely praised for their excellent handling of the disease during the initial months of the outbreak. Thanks to their successful efforts, they were then quickly able to begin reopening the country’s borders and its economy, thus allowing the tourism industry – vital to Greece’s GDP – to slowly start its recovery.

Yet, alongside the gradual return to normalcy, coronavirus cases also returned en masse. Respectively, the government has been changing its guidelines and recommendations in order to best fit the current circumstances. The latest changes to government policy, however, are proof that perhaps stronger action needs to be taken in order to protect the health and the lives of citizens and visitors.

The changes, that have been in effect for a couple of days include:

• An extension of all measures applied to numerous islands (such as Poros) to 24 August
• The introduction of mandatory closing times for all venues in Attica, Kythria and the Saronic Gulf. Bars, cafes and restaurants in these regions will not be allowed to operate between midnight and 07:00 AM.
• A mandate for vulnerable workers and civil servants to work from home until 31 August
• An increased emphasis on the use of face masks in public, especially in high-risk areas such as military encampments and migrant and refugee camps. Additionally, the use of masks is strongly recommended to all citizens returning from holidays to areas that are considered particularly “dangerous”.

While the reintroduction of some restrictive measures might be seen as a nuisance by some, it is worth considering that Greek authorities already boast a proven track record of handling the disease and can perhaps even be considered as a safe pair of hands during these turbulent times.